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Coastline, Cayo Costa Island, Florida
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COLLIER COUNTY
MARCO ISLAND
South Marco Beach Access 930 S. Collier Blvd., (239) 252-4000. This beach offers parking a short walk across the boulevard on Swallow Avenue and features restrooms in the parking lot. collierparks.com
Tigertail Beach 480 Hernando Drive, (239) 252-4000. This county park has restrooms, boardwalks, a picnic area, a playground, a butterfly garden and a concession stand offering beach rentals and food. collierparks.com
NAPLES
Barefoot Beach Preserve 505 Barefoot Beach Blvd., (239) 252-4000. An access point 20 feet off Bonita Beach Road on Lely Barefoot Boulevard provides an open, peaceful location for sunbathers. Barefoot Beach Preserve Park is located just south of this access point. Just north is Bonita Beach Park, which has public restrooms, showers and concessions. Visitors can expect to see thriving wildlife and sea creatures throughout the preserve. collierparks.com
Bluebill Beach Access Bluebill Avenue and Gulf Shore Drive, (239) 252-4000. The Bluebill Beach access provides easy access to Collier County’s white sand beach. Find additional parking at Conner Park, just a few blocks away, which offers an open play area, a fishing area and a three-quarter-mile walking trail. collierparks.com
Clam Pass Park 465 Seagate Drive, (239) 252-4000. Trams at this county park transport visitors over a boardwalk to a beach with a picnic area and concession stand. Chairs, cabanas, kayaks and restroom facilities are also available. collierparks.com
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park 11135 Gulf Shore Drive, (239) 597-6196. This beach’s facilities include picnic areas, restrooms with wheelchair access and outdoor showers. Walking the nature trail to an observation tower and fishing in the pass are popular pastimes. Park rangers conduct nature programs, and a boat ramp is available for a $5 fee. floridastateparks.org
Lowdermilk Park 1301 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., (239) 213-7120. The park offers 1,000 feet of beachfront, outdoor showers, gazebos, picnic tables, a playground, volleyball court, concession stand and duck pond. Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are available. naplesgov.com
Naples Pier At the west end of 12th Ave. S. in Old Naples, (239) 213-7120. The iconic Naples pier has restrooms, a snack bar and lots of atmosphere. Dolphins are seen frequently, and it’s a great spot for fishing and sunset-watching. Metered parking is nearby, with additional parking and access points along Gulf Shore Boulevard. naplesgov.com
North Gulfshore Beach Access 4989-4999 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., (239) 252-4000. Known locally as Seagate Beach, this area offers a beautiful walk between two upscale condominiums. Parking is available on Seagate Drive. collierparks.com
Vanderbilt Beach Park 100 Vanderbilt Beach Road, (239) 252-4000. This is a tree- and residence-lined county beach. Wheelchair-accessible parking is available. Snacks and watersports rentals are available through The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, and Vanderbilt Beach Resort. Metered parking and a parking garage are available. collierparks.com
Via Miramar Beach 2699 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., (239) 213-1820. The beach has public access on Gulf Shore Boulevard North, just south of Harbour Drive, with ample parking and an outdoor shower. A short walk south takes you to the jetty at Doctors Pass, which provides Gulf access from Naples Bay. parkme.com
LEE COUNTY
BOCA GRANDE
Boca Grande Beach Accesess (239) 533-7275. The island offers more than 25 beach access points, some leading to the Gulf of Mexico and others to Gasparilla Sound. Several of these paths are unmarked, with some only wide enough to accommodate walking. leeparks.org
Gasparilla Island State Park 880 Belcher Road, (941) 964-0375. The beaches here are great for swimming, snorkeling, fishing, shelling and picnicking. The park also features the Boca Grande Lighthouse, built in 1890. floridastateparks.org
BONITA SPRINGS
Bonita Beach Park 27954 Hickory Blvd., (239) 533-7275. Facilities here include picnic tables, grills, a playground, a sand volleyball court and restrooms. Plus, there’s 10 access points for easy parking. leeparks.org
Dog Beach 8800 Estero Blvd., (239) 533-7275. Dogs can run free at the beach here; keep in mind there are no facilities, but there is free parking. leeparks.org
Little Hickory Island Beach Park 26082 Hickory Blvd., (239) 533-7275. Located between Bonita Beach and Lovers Key, this is a popular beach for fishing. Restrooms,picnic tables and shelters available. leeparks.org
CAPE CORAL
Four Freedoms Park 4818 Tarpon Court, (239) 574-0804. The park and recreation center, which overlooks Bimini Basin, features a playground area, picnic tables and grills. capecoral.gov
Yacht Club Community Park 5819 Driftwood Parkway, (239) 574-0806. Located on the Caloosahatchee River, the area features picnic tables, restrooms, outdoor showers, tennis courts, a public marina, a barbecue area, a public pool, a restaurant and a licensed fishing pier. capecoral.gov
ESTERO
Estero Island Beach Accesses 50-950 Estero Blvd., (239) 533-7275. Located north of Matanzas Bridge, six access points to the Gulf of Mexico are denoted by poles with colored banners. leeparks.org
FORT MYERS
Bunche Beach Preserve 18201 John Morris Road, (239) 533-7275. The beach overlooks Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island on San Carlos Bay. Its 718 acres of nature preserves make it a popular location with fishers and paddlers. Restrooms are available and there is limited parking. leeparks.org
FORT MYERS BEACH
Bowditch Point Regional Park 50 Estero Blvd., (239) 533-7275. Take Matanzas Pass Bridge to the beach; turn right at the foot of the bridge and follow Estero Boulevard to the end. You’ll find 17 acres of recreational area and nature preserve. Includes restrooms, picnic tables, concessions, hiking paths and wheelchair-accessible access. leeparks.org
Crescent Beach Family Park 1100 Estero Blvd., (239) 533-7275. This park offers four access points to the beach, sand volleyball courts and a landscaped picnic area. leeparks.org
Fort Myers Beach 950 Estero Blvd., (239) 432-2154. Managed by the Town of Fort Myers Beach, this sandy locale has almost 30 public access points along Estero Boulevard. The shores are home to plenty of hotels, bars and cafes. Park at a nearby lot and walk or bike to the accesses. fortmyersbeachfl.gov
Lovers Key State Park 8700 Estero Blvd., (239) 463-4588. Florida’s top five most-visited park consists of four barrier islands between Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Beach, with beaches, nature trails and concessions. There is also a new Welcome & Discovery Center with interactive environmental exhibits. floridastateparks.org
Lynn Hall Memorial Park 950 Estero Blvd., (239) 533-7275. This beach is located in the heart of the city of Fort Myers Beach. Amenities include restrooms, a fishing pier, picnic shelters, grills, shops and restaurants at Times Square pedestrian mall. leeparks.org
Matanzas Pass Preserve 199 Bay Road, (239) 533-7275. Running along the east side of Fort Myers Beach, this preserve allows visitors to enjoy native vegetation and views of the pass-through hiking trails, fishing spots and paddle launches. leeparks.org
Newton Beach Park 4650 Estero Blvd., (239) 765-0865. The former beachfront home of Jim and Ellie Newton, who were friends with Edison, Ford and Lindbergh. Beach access includes paid parking, outdoor showers, restrooms, and covered picnic areas. The historic cottage on site is available for rent. fortmyersbeachfl.gov
SANIBEL/CAPTIVA ISLANDS
Alison Hagerup Beach Park 14790 Captiva Drive, Captiva, (239) 472-2472. Also known as Captiva Beach, the northernmost public-access beach on Captiva Island is a popular, romantic spot to catch the sunset. The space includes restrooms, and restaurants lie nearby. leegov.com
Andy Rosse Lane Park 11570 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva, (239) 472-2471. A beach access point at the west end of Andy Rosse Lane is accessible by foot. The road’s east end offers a small kayak and canoe launch with limited parking. leeparks.org
Bowman’s Beach 1700 Bowmans Beach Road, Sanibel, (239) 472-6397. This popular Sanibel beach is noted for its wildlife, shelling and seclusion. It offers plentiful parking, plus restrooms, changing rooms, showers, drinking fountains, picnic tables, grills and recreational vehicle parking. leeparks.org
Causeway Islands 19931 Sanibel Causeway, Sanibel, (239) 533-7275. Beaches are located on both sides of the road and offer excellent shelling and fishing; picnic tables and restrooms available on the second island. Renovations are taking place through June 2025. During that time, beaches on one side of the islands will remain open at all times. Leashed pets are welcome. leeparks.org
Cayo Costa State Park 4 nautical miles west of Pine Island, (941) 964-0375. Just north of Captiva and just south of Boca Grande is an untouched island paradise that is accessible only by boat or helicopter. It offers 9 miles of beautiful, pristine beaches and more than 2,500 acres of pine forest and mangrove swamp. floridastateparks.org
Gulfside City Park 2001 Algiers Lane, Sanibel, (239) 472-6397. Locals refer to this as ‘Algiers Beach,’ named after a steamboat once pulled ashore and turned into a home. It offers shaded picnic areas, an interpretive kiosk, boardwalks, restrooms and outdoor showers. Pets are allowed if leashed. mysanibel.com
Lighthouse Beach Park 110-153 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, (239) 472-6397. At this historic lighthouse on the eastern tip of Sanibel, there’s a fishing pier, picnic areas, restrooms, hiking paths and recreational vehicle parking. mysanibel.com
Tarpon Bay Road Beach Park 111 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel, (239) 472-6397. Pets on leashes are allowed, and the beach offers picnic areas, restrooms and nearby recreational vehicle parking. mysanibel.com
Turner Beach 17200 Captiva Drive, Captiva, (239) 472-6397. The beach is at the north end of Blind Pass, which separates Sanibel and Captiva islands. It’s popular with families and fishermen, although signs in some areas caution against swimming because of swift currents. Restrooms and outdoor showers are available on the Captiva side. leeparks.gov
CHARLOTTE COUNTY
PORT CHARLOTTE/PUNTA GORDA
Port Charlotte Beach Park 4500 Harbor Blvd., Port Charlotte, (941) 627-1628. This park is situated on bay waters off Peace River. Expect park amenities including a boardwalk with fishing pier, boat ramp, canoe and kayak launch, horseshoe pits, bocce, basketball, tennis and sand volleyball courts, a playground area, sheltered picnic tables, restrooms, heated swimming pool and a recreation center. charlottecountyfl.gov
Englewood Beach at Chadwick Park 2 100 N. Beach Road, Englewood, (941) 681-3742. This Gulf-front beach features a 900-foot boardwalk with three covered lookouts, restrooms, showers, water stations, volleyball and basketball courts, horseshoe pits, playground area, food vendors and sheltered picnic tables with grills. charlottecountyfl.gov