Here on Florida’s Paradise Coast, miles of pristine beaches offer hours of seaside bliss. To make your beach day even more carefree, it’s good to have a plan before heading out, especially when it comes to finding parking near Naples and Marco Island. Here’s a round-up of area beaches, where to park, and what amenities you’ll find when you get there.
NAPLES BEACH: STEPS FROM IT ALL
A narrow stretch running for miles northward and southward from the Naples Pier, Naples Beach is just a few blocks from the upscale restaurants, shops, and hotels downtown.
Parking – Several public access points offer limited parking at the west end of most downtown avenues. Metered spaces cost $3 an hour. Pay with quarters or a credit card. You can also get here without a car: the Naples Trolley makes regular stops at the pier.
Amenities – Restrooms, showers, concession stand, covered eating area, wheelchair access
Hours – Sunrise to sundown
LOWDERMILK PARK: NATURAL BEAUTY, NEAR TOWN
Scenic, easy-to-access Lowdermilk Park is a public beach and park situated three miles north of downtown Naples. Lowdermilk Beach Cafe is open 9 a.m. to sunset) serves sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, ice cream, and more – and it’s where you can rent beach chairs, umbrellas, kayaks, paddleboards, bodyboards, and other beach essentials.
Parking – Metered parking — $1.25 first half-hour, 25-cents per six minutes after that, $2.50 per hour. Pay with quarters or credit card.
Amenities – Restrooms, showers, picnic pavilion/tables, concessions, beach gear rentals, two gazebos available for rent, duck pond, playgrounds, two sand volleyball courts, wheelchair ramp
Hours – Sunrise to sundown
VANDERBILT BEACH PARK IN NORTH NAPLES
A popular beach spot nine miles north of downtown Naples, and near upscale hotels and resorts and golf courses, Vanderbilt Beach is fairly narrow, providing easy access to the Gulf waters.
Parking – Parking garage with toll booth attendant. $8 without Collier County resident beach parking permit. Limited, metered street parking, credit cards only.
Amenities – Restroom, foot showers, concessions, beach gear rentals, bike racks, beach wheelchair, life jackets
Hours – 8 a.m. to sundown
NATURALLY HEAVENLY: DELNOR-WIGGINS PASS STATE PARK
Located just west of North Naples, Delnor Wiggins Pass State Park is a mile-long, 166-acre wonderland separated from the mainland by tidal creeks and mangrove swamps, giving the park a pristine, get-away-from-it-all vibe. Delnor-Wiggins is renowned for its shelling. Boaters and paddlers can reach the Gulf of Mexico and the Cocohatchee River. Naples Beach Adventures offers rentals of beach chairs, umbrellas, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards.
Parking – Parking lot — $6 per vehicle (limit eight people); $4 single-occupant vehicle; $2 bicyclists, pedestrians, extra passengers. Additional parking can be found at the Conner Park parking lot, a short walk east of the beach, with 158 metered spaces (credit cards only).
Amenities – Outdoor showers, boat ramp ($5) with kayak/canoe launch, observation tower & trail, picnic tables/pavilions/grills, boardwalks and observation decks, beach wheelchairs, concessions, beach gear rental, free beach wheelchairs
Hours – 8 a.m. to sundown
BELOVED BEACHFRONT: CLAM PASS PARK
One of the Paradise Coast’s most popular beach access points, Clam Pass Park is a serene, 35-acre park located on Outer Clam Bay, just west of the Naples Grande Beach Resort, six miles north of downtown Naples.
Parking – 171 public parking spaces. $8 without Collier County Resident Beach Parking Permit. Free tram to the beach.
Amenities – Rhodes End restaurant (part of the Naples Grande Beach Resort), the boardwalk goes from the parking lot to beach, restrooms, bike racks, foot showers, life jackets, beach wheelchair
Hours – 8 a.m. to sundown
BAREFOOT BEACH PRESERVE: A PRISTINE PARADISE
The northernmost beach in the Paradise Coast is Barefoot Beach Preserve, a 342-acre natural marvel lined with lush plant life. This is one of the last remaining undeveloped barrier islands in Southwest Florida.
Parking – 96 public spaces; $8 (credit card only) without Collier County resident beach parking permit
Amenities – Restrooms, drink-vending machines, a learning center with natural history exhibits, butterfly & cactus gardens, one-mile loop walking trail, picnic tables/pavilions, foot showers, beach wheelchair, life jackets
Hours – 8 a.m. to sundown
TIGERTAIL BEACH PARK: NATURAL BEAUTY ON MARCO ISLAND
Located on the northwest side of Marco Island, Tigertail Beach Park is a surprisingly undeveloped natural park amid suburban streets, high-rise condos, and resorts. This off-the-radar beach was an unnamed, off-shore sandbar until Hurricane Wilma infilled the sand in 2005.
Parking – Public parking, a short walk from the beach. $8 or $1.50 per hour (credit card only) without Collier County resident beach parking permit.
Amenities – Restrooms/changing rooms, concessions, picnic area, playground, watersport/beach gear rentals (including jet skis and paddleboards)
Hours – 8 a.m. to sundown
SOUTH MARCO ISLAND BEACH PARKING
South Marco Beach Access
Located on the southwestern tip of Marco Island, South Marco and Tigertail Beach are the only public beaches on the island. The short path to the beach is lined with sabal palms.
Parking – 70 parking spaces. $8, payable to Master Meter, without Collier County beach parking pass.
Amenities – Restrooms
Hours – Sunrise to sundown