Table of Contents
- Peanut Island Access at a Glance: Your Options
- Ferry and Shuttle Boat Service
- Water Taxi and Private Boat Charters
- Peanut Island Ferry Cost and Ticket Details
- Peanut Island Ferry Schedule: Departures and Returns
- How to Get to Peanut Island Without a Boat
- Where to Park and Catch the Ferry in Riviera Beach
- Planning Your Peanut Island Day Trip: Timing and Tips
- Safety, Water Conditions, and Return-Trip Contingencies
- Frequently Asked Questions
Last Updated: October 18, 2026
Peanut Island Access at a Glance: Your Options
Peanut Island sits in the Lake Worth Lagoon, just off Riviera Beach, and you cannot drive there.
The island is a county park, and the county’s own park information for Peanut Island confirms there is no bridge and no causeway.
Your main choices break down like this:
- Public ferry or shuttle boat from the Riviera Beach marina area
- Water taxi service, often booked by the seat
- Private boat charter, where a captain handles the route
- Kayak or paddleboard from the mainland shore
Most first-time visitors take the shuttle. Groups with gear, kids, or a schedule to keep tend to book a private charter instead.
Ferry and Shuttle Boat Service
The public ferry is the simplest way to get to Peanut Island.
Here is what to expect on board:
- Open-air seating with shade cover
- Room for coolers, beach bags, and snorkel gear
- Crew who handle loading and unloading
- Frequent crossings throughout the operating day
The ride itself is short enough that seasickness is rarely a concern. The lagoon stays calm on most days because the island and inlet break the ocean swell.
One thing to know: the shuttle does not run on a fixed clock the way a city bus does. It cycles back and forth, so your wait depends on how many people are ahead of you.
Water Taxi and Private Boat Charters
A water taxi works like a shared ride on the water.
Private charters work differently. You book the whole boat, the captain sets the route, and the schedule is yours. For groups, that changes the math on a Peanut Island day trip in ways a per-seat fare never can.
At Palm Beach Charters, our exclusive private boat tours run to Peanut Island and other South Florida landmarks, with the boat reserved for your group alone.
If your group is larger than a handful of people, price out a private charter before you assume the per-seat shuttle is cheaper. Once you split a charter across a group, the gap often closes, and you gain control over departure and return times.
Peanut Island Ferry Cost and Ticket Details
Fares for the shuttle are set by the operator, not by the county, and they move with the season and with demand. That is why you will see different numbers on different sites.
Here is how the fare almost always breaks down:
- Round trip is the standard purchase. Most operators sell a round-trip ticket rather than one-way, and the round-trip price is what you should budget per person.
- Adult and child rates are separate. Children under a certain age typically ride free or at a reduced rate; confirm the cutoff age when you book.
- Cash and card acceptance varies by operator. Some docks are card-only, some are cash-only, and some take both. Bring both to avoid a walk back to the car.
- Coolers and oversized bags may carry a small surcharge. A standard beach bag and snorkel gear usually ride free; a large hard-sided cooler may not.
- Park entry is separate from your boat fare. The island is a county park, and the county publishes its own rules on hours and fees through Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation. Your shuttle ticket does not cover park rules, and park rules do not cover your boat seat.
A realistic budget for a family of four is two adult round-trip fares plus two child round-trip fares, plus parking, plus whatever you spend on the island.
Buy round trip at the dock, not one way. Return seats are the scarce resource on busy weekends, and a round-trip ticket is your proof of a return reservation. If the operator offers a timed return, take the latest slot that still gets you back before dark and build your day around it.
Do not buy a one-way ticket assuming you will catch a ride back with someone else. Return seats fill up on busy weekends, and a stranded afternoon turns a relaxing day trip into a scramble. If you are unsure of your return time, ask the dock crew whether your ticket can be used on any return crossing or only a specific one.
If you are comparing the shuttle against a private charter, do the math on the whole group, not per person. A charter is priced per boat, so the per-person cost falls as the group grows. For a couple, the shuttle is almost always cheaper. For a group of six or more with gear and a fixed schedule, the gap often closes once you factor in the value of setting your own departure and return times.
Peanut Island Ferry Schedule: Departures and Returns
Exact departure times shift with the season and with daylight. Summer runs longer than winter. Holiday weekends add boats. Weekday afternoons are the quietest window.
Plan your day around the final return trip, not the first departure. That is the deadline that matters.
A practical rhythm for most visitors:
- Arrive at the dock in the morning, before the rush builds
- Take an early crossing and claim your spot on the beach
- Snorkel or explore before the midday heat peaks
- Catch a return boat with a buffer before the last one
If you book a private charter, this whole schedule problem disappears. You set the departure time and the return time, and the captain works around your group.
How to Get to Peanut Island Without a Boat
You do not need to own a boat to reach the island, and you do not need to buy a ferry ticket either.
The crossing from the Riviera Beach shore is short, and the water inside the lagoon stays protected on most days.
What to plan for:
- Launch points on the mainland side, including rental outfits that supply the boat
- A dry bag for phones, keys, and snacks
- A life jacket, which rental companies provide and which you should wear
- Wind and current, which pick up in the afternoon
- A leash or tie-off so your board does not drift while you swim
Paddle early. Morning water is glassy, the heat is lower, and you beat the boat traffic that builds by midday.
Kayak and Paddleboard Routes from Riviera Beach
The route from Riviera Beach to Peanut Island is a straight shot across the lagoon, typically under half an hour of paddling at an easy pace. Rental shops near the marina rent by the hour or half day and can point you toward the safest crossing line.
Watch for the channel. Motorboats and shuttles use it, and a kayak in the channel is hard to see from a helm. Cross behind moving boats, not in front of them.
Where to Park and Catch the Ferry in Riviera Beach
The shuttle dock sits in the Riviera Beach marina area, on the mainland side of the Lake Worth Lagoon. Your navigation target is the marina complex itself, not the island, the island has no road address because no road reaches it.
Arrival logistics, in order:
- Drive to the marina complex. The dock and ticket booth are within walking distance of the main marina parking. Follow signs for public parking rather than marina-permit parking; the two are not the same lot.
- Park first, then buy tickets. Do not queue for tickets with your car idling in a drop-off zone. Park, walk to the booth, and buy round trip.
- Walk your gear to the dock. Coolers, beach bags, and snorkel gear go with you on the boat; there is no baggage service. A wagon or a rolling cooler makes the walk easier.
- Queue early on weekends. The first boats of the morning fill fastest, and the line is the constraint, not the boat count.
Parking specifics worth knowing:
- The closest lot fills first. On a Saturday or Sunday, arrive before mid-morning or expect to circle.
- Public lots nearby mix paid and free. Some are metered, some are flat-rate, and some are free with a time limit. Read the signs at the entrance before you pull in.
- Street parking has posted time limits, and enforcement does check. A beach day runs longer than most street limits, so street parking is a backup, not a plan.
- Have a backup lot in mind. If the main marina lot is full, the next-closest public lot is your fallback; scouting it on the way in saves a second loop.
Florida State Parks maintains regional information on outdoor recreation in the area, and the county parks department publishes island-specific rules. Neither publishes live parking availability, so the only reliable check is arrival time.
The single biggest variable in a smooth Peanut Island day is arrival time. Get to the dock early and the rest of the day tends to fall into place. If you are running late, call the operator before you leave, a sold-out morning boat is better learned from the car than from the dock.
Planning Your Peanut Island Day Trip: Timing and Tips
A Peanut Island day trip works best when you pack for a beach day and plan for a boat ride.
Pack these:
- Water, more than you think you need
- Sunscreen and a hat
- Snorkel gear or goggles
- A shade tent or umbrella
- Lunch and snacks in a cooler
Alcohol rules on the island are set by the county, and glass containers are typically restricted on the beach.
Weekends bring long lines for the shuttle and limited space on the island’s beaches. A weekday visit feels like a different place.
Safety, Water Conditions, and Return-Trip Contingencies
Water conditions in the lagoon stay mild on most days, but the inlet nearby can push current and chop through on a strong tide.
Safety basics worth repeating:
- Wear a life jacket on the water, especially with kids
- Swim near other people, not alone
- Watch the current at the inlet side of the island
- Keep an eye on the time for the last return boat
For the return trip, build in a buffer. If you miss the final shuttle, you will need a backup: call a water taxi, hail a private boat, or ask the dock crew about options. This is exactly where a private charter earns its keep.
The most common mistake is treating the last shuttle like a suggestion. It is not. When the final boat leaves, the dock is empty, and your phone is your only way off the island.
Getting to Peanut Island takes some planning, and the logistics can make or break a celebration. Our exclusive private boat tours include customized routes to Peanut Island and the Jupiter Lighthouse, a boat reserved for your group alone, and a captain who works around your timeline instead of a shuttle clock.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the ferry to go to Peanut Island?
Round-trip ferry fares to Peanut Island are set by the shuttle operator and vary by age and season, so check current rates before you go. Adult round-trip tickets typically cost less than a casual lunch out, with reduced fares for children. Book online when possible to lock in your spot, especially on weekends when boats fill up. Palm Beach Charters can also quote private charter pricing if you want a group experience instead of the public shuttle.
Can you drive to Peanut Island?
No, you cannot drive to Peanut Island. It is only reachable by water, so your options are the public ferry or shuttle boat, a water taxi, a private charter, or paddling over by kayak or paddleboard from the Riviera Beach mainland. There is no bridge or road access. Park at the marina lot near the departure point, then board a boat for the short ride across the Intracoastal Waterway.
How long is the boat ride to Peanut Island?
The ferry or shuttle boat ride from the Riviera Beach departure point to Peanut Island takes only a few minutes because the island sits just across the Intracoastal Waterway. Kayakers and paddleboarders should plan for a slightly longer crossing depending on conditions and route. Because the ride is so short, most of your day is spent on the island itself, which makes a Peanut Island day trip easy to fit into a morning or afternoon.
What time should you arrive for the Peanut Island ferry?
Arrive at the departure marina at least 20 to 30 minutes before your intended ferry time, and earlier on weekends and holidays when lines are longer and space is limited. Boats run on a set schedule with a final return trip in the afternoon, so confirm the day’s times when you buy tickets. If you book a private charter through Palm Beach Charters, your captain sets the departure time and you skip the public queue entirely.
