- Shelter
- E, SW, S, SE
- Seabed
- sand, algae
- Anchoring
- Allowed
Anchorage off Snipe Key in the Lower Florida Keys, about 16 nm north-east of Key West, on a sand and weed bottom.
- Beach
- Seagrass
Guide
Approach and anchoring
Snipe Keys lie just east of the Mud Keys and north of the Saddlebunch Keys. Boats anchor off the sandbar in shallow water, around 2 feet over the bar, so watch the tide and your draught carefully. The bottom is sand and seagrass. Shelter is limited, running from the eastern quarter and from the south, with the anchorage open to the north-west.
Practical
No facilities at the anchorage. Sugarloaf Marina lies about 6.7 nm to the south-east and Boca Chica Marina about 7.5 nm to the south for fuel and provisions.
Ashore
The Snipe Keys are a wildlife management area within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, set aside to protect terns, shorebirds and herons among the mangroves. The Snipe Point sandbar draws large numbers of boats on summer weekends.
Key facts
- Type
- Anchorage
- Coordinates
- 24.69766, -81.67413 (24°41.86'N 81°40.45'W)
- Country
- United States
- Shelter
- Sheltered from east, south-west, south, south-east winds
- Seabed
- sand, algae
- Anchoring
- Allowed
- Services
- Beach, Seagrass
- Updated
- July 7, 2026
Getting there
Snipe Key lies at 24°41.86'N 81°40.45'W, that is 24.69766, -81.67413 in decimal degrees.
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Write a reviewFrequently asked questions
Which winds is Snipe Key sheltered from?
Snipe Key is sheltered from east, south-west, south, south-east winds.
Can you anchor at Snipe Key?
Yes, anchoring is allowed at Snipe Key.
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