The Best Naples Area Beaches

The Best Naples Area Beaches – Some of the beaches of Florida are in the Naples area.  The number one attraction for visitors to the Naples area, is its beaches which boast white sugar sand. From Bonita Beach in the north to the beaches of Marco Island and Ten Thousand Islands in the south.  The beaches range from thriving mid-city beaches with full facilities and water sports rentals galore to quiet natural preserves and a state park, where observing wildlife and chilling take precedence. Broken only occasionally by passes and inlets, they provide long stretches for walking and communing with the sea.

Take your pick from this 10 Best list of family friendly beaches such as Lowdermilk Park, downtown’s Naples Municipal Beach and Pier and even a freshwater lake beach at Sugden Regional Park.

Activities range from sunning and swimming to fishing, jet-skiing, sailing, kayaking and bar hopping. Naples beaches are known for their seashells and rich shore bird life, so don’t forget your shell bag and binoculars. Throw in a shelling and birding field guide while you’re at it.

Whichever variety of beach beckons your inner beach-bum, you are sure to find one that pleases. Or try a different one each day to experience the vast variety Naples has to offer.  To plan your beach travel to Naples and the area beaches, Visit our Naples Travel Guide Here.

Barefoot Beach Preserve Park

This pristine park offers the ideal beach experience complete with tropical hammocks, scenic tidal creeks and lush mangrove swamps. The 342-acre preserve features a one-mile nature trail, public showers, a picnic area, a concession stand, a butterfly garden and equipment rentals. Rangers conduct interpretive sessions and a daily guided canoe tour through the back bay. Wildlife and turtles can be abundant at times. Because Barefoot Beach is such a desirable place to visit, it is possible that available parking could fill later in the day during the season. Its natural, unspoiled quality appeals to wildlife watchers, fishermen and beach bums alike.  To plan your beach travel to Naples and the area beaches, Visit our Naples Travel Guide Here.

Clam Pass County Park

This beach adventure begins with a tram ride across a three-quarter-mile boardwalk through a mangrove estuary, so you get to experience at least two different Naples habitats within minutes. The park fronts the Naples Grande Beach Resort, located adjacent to its parking lot, which means it can be heavily populated, especially in the winter and spring season. The concession area has plenty to offer making it great for kids. The rental stand has towels, chairs and beach umbrellas, along with a wide assortment of beach gear, including wind surfers, canoes, Hobie Cats and aqua bikes. The food concession also offers a shaded eating area.The lovely coastal habitat spans 35 acres and also includes a tidal bay area where beach goers can observe wading shorebirds, osprey and other marine life. Boat and cabana rentals are available at the county-operated facility, plus there are restrooms, showers and a resort food concession.  To plan your beach travel to Naples and the area beaches, Visit our Naples Travel Guide Here.

Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park

Recognized as one of the best beaches in the US, the sandy shore at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is all-natural and devoid of the high rises and development of most of the other local beaches. A nature trail leads to an observation tower at the beach’s north end. Fishermen head to the pass to hook into fish being flushed out of the Cocohatchee River.  The park is a lush wildlife habitat with mangroves covering 80% of the area. The park offers several shaded picnic and grilling areas along the length of the beach. A concession stand is available that offers food, drinks and beach items. A bathhouse is also available with changing stalls. This is a popular park, but you can usually find parking in one of the many lots if you arrive early enough. The park posts a sign on the road leading to it when it is full, but there’s another parking lot less than a quarter mile away if you don’t mind walking. Picnic areas have grills, restrooms and showers.  To plan your beach travel to Naples and the area beaches, Visit our Naples Travel Guide Here.

Lowdermilk Park

Lowdermilk Park holds the most full-service facilities of any Gulf of Mexico beach in the Naples area, making it a good fit for families with children. They can gather for picnics in one of the two gazebo pavilions that the park rents out, go check out the duck pond, play on the two playgrounds and enjoy the calm and safe waters here away from any rushing pass waters. Other facilities include sand volleyball courts, restrooms and showers, handicap access and beach wheelchairs and a food concession stand. Its close proximity to the downtown area adds to its convenience for visitors of all ages.  To plan your beach travel to Naples and the area beaches, Visit our Naples Travel Guide Here.

Naples Municipal Beach and Pier

The Naples City beach stretches 6 miles from Gordon Pass on the south side to Doctors Pass on the north side. The nice thing about the Naples City beach is easy access. Parking for the beach is available at the western end of most residential streets between 7th Avenue North, to 19th Avenue South (26 blocks of parking). Many of the access points also have an outdoor shower available for rinsing.

The Naples Fishing Pier is located at the west end of 12th Avenue South where plenty of parking is also available. The Pier is near the midway point of the Naples Beach where you can walk 3 miles south to Gordon Pass, or 3 miles north to Doctors Pass. The area on and around the pier usually has interesting activity, and a refreshment stand sits on the pier. Pelicans are regulars visitors there and you can find them begging for leftovers from the fisherman. Dolphins, schools of stingrays and fish can also be seen from the pier.

The beach is bordered on the east by multi-million dollar single family residences. On the entire six mile length of beach you will only find food and drink available at a few places, including the Pier, Lowdermilk Park or at the Naples Beach Hotel. There’s a beach bar and food available at the hotel, and fine restaurants.  To plan your beach travel to Naples and the area beaches, Visit our Naples Travel Guide Here.

South Marco Beach

South Marco Beach Access is one of the two public beach accesses on Marco Island. For easy travel, the beach features a public parking lot with restrooms and a paved walkway over the road and on to the beach. South Marco Beach features one acre of beachfront property, lined with sabal palms and the large, luxury hotels of Marco Island. This beach is the less popular of the two Marco Island beaches, featuring virtually no amenities in addition to the picturesque scenery. Swimmers and sunbathers are allowed on South Marco from 8:00 a.m. until sunset each day.  To plan your beach travel to Naples and the area beaches, Visit our Naples Travel Guide Here.

Sugden Regional Park

The only freshwater lake public beach in the Naples area, Sugden Regional Park is most well known for its sailing events and programs, but the 60-acre Avalon Lake is also a great place for kayaking and water skiing. The park rents water sports equipment including paddle boats. A scenic walking trail takes you around the lake, and visitors also enjoy picnicking, playing on the playground, fishing from the pier and relaxing on the sand beach. Water-skiing and sailing lessons are available at this county maintained facility in a quiet neighborhood on the east side of Naples – including instruction for those with special needs.  To plan your beach travel to Naples and the area beaches, Visit our Naples Travel Guide Here.

Tigertail Beach

The most popular Marco Island beach, Tigertail features all the amenities one would expect to find at a Florida beach destination, plus a few unexpected pleasures. Adjacent to the parking lot, guests will find restroom facilities as well as a full-service snack bar. Wander across the white boardwalks to get to the sand and water. Situated on a lagoon, rather than the Gulf of Mexico, the water at Tigertail remains fairly shadow, ideal for kids to swim. During the summer season, lifeguards watch the beach during certain hours. Beach chairs and umbrella rentals are also available at Tigertail. Guests may also enjoy the adjacent butterfly gardens and playgrounds. For a family picnic, make use of the BBQ grills and picnic tables available at Tigertail. Perhaps one of the best things about this crescent-shaped beach is its inclusion in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission’s South Florida Birding Trail. Nesting shorebirds, including plovers, red knots, spoonbills, osprey, pelicans and even bald eagles are likely to make a home here..  To plan your beach travel to Naples and the area beaches, Visit our Naples Travel Guide Here.

Bonita Beach Park

Big Hickory Island holds the community of Bonita Beach, an erstwhile fishing village turned swank. At the island’s southernmost end, beach-lovers come to play. The closest beach to Interstate 75, it attracts a lively crowd of active beach-goers with all sorts of water sports rentals and beach volleyball. Although many come to party at Bonita Beach Park, it is also family friendly with a playground, showers, picnic shelters with tables and grills, beach rentals and a burger joint that feeds you indoors and outdoors. Heading north, you will find about ten more smaller public beach accesses, with free but limited parking, lining Hickory Boulevard.  Directly north of the beach facilities is Doc’s Beach House, a good stop for grabbing breakfast, lunch, dinner or refreshments.  To plan your beach travel to Naples and the area beaches, Visit our Naples Travel Guide Here.

Vanderbilt Beach

Vanderbilt Beach in North Naples fronts a line of resorts, including the Ritz-Carlton. The good news is that affords beach-goers venues for bar-hopping and dining. The bad: It gets a little crowded. A parking garage is available off of Vanderbilt Road on the south side of the street. Vanderbilt beach is located near several hotels, and concessions and water sport rentals are available. A their are a few hotel restaurants near buy, in the Naples Ritz Carlton.  Plenty of open white sand carpets the beach along the gently lapping Gulf of Mexico. In the quiet early morning hours, beach goers can enjoy hunting for sea shells and watching shore birds. You can walk for miles along this stretch, to Clam Pass Preserve Park to the north and along housing developments and residential neighborhoods to the south. Perks such as a concession stand, public restrooms, showers and bike racks appeal to the midday crowd.  To plan your beach travel to Naples and the area beaches, Visit our Naples Travel Guide Here.

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