Collier County, Florida’s Paradise Coast, is known for its beautiful beaches and exciting places to visit. With a wide selection of pristine sand that’s soft, warm, and comforting, there are many beautiful areas to enjoy. So, what are the best Collier County Beaches?
Barefoot Beach is for nature lovers, while Delnor-Wiggins Pass is enjoyed by shelling enthusiasts. For a laidback appeal, visit Lowdermilk Beach or bring the family to Little Hickory Island Beach Park for a fun-filled day.
Here are our picks of the best Collier County beaches:
- Keewaydin Island
- Barefoot Beach
- Lover’s Key State Park
- Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
- Naples Pier Beach
- South Marco Beach
- Lowdermilk Beach
- Seagate Beach
- 3rd Avenue Beach
- Clam Pass Beach
- Vanderbilt Beach Park
- Tigertail Beach Park
- Little Hickory Island Beach Park
- Fort Myers Beach
Beaches have particular perks that make them unique. Some may prefer quieter spots, where others may enjoy a livelier scene. There are also beaches excellent for shelling, for families, and more.
From Charlotte Harbor to the Ten Thousand Islands and the Everglades, we selected the best options based on what could make your summer destination more special.
Read on and learn about the best Collier County beaches that meet your distinct preferences and tastes of adventure. We also included information about beach passes and parking permits.
14 Best Collier County Beaches, Florida
Choose among the best Collier County beaches in Florida for that sizzling summer escapade.
1. Keewaydin Island
This deserted and uninhabited island offers a unique beach experience. Located south of Naples, it’s a large and narrow barrier island without roads, cars, or bridges. Instead, it has amazingly sandy beaches on both the ocean and bayside.
While access to this island is only by boat, there is a shuttle service that you can use from the nearby Rose Marina on Marco Island.
Enjoy the beach by yourself or socialize with boaters who anchor on the bayside. You could also pack a picnic or get adventurous tasting meals from food boats that regularly pass by.
2. Barefoot Beach
If you’re a nature lover, this beach in the Naples area is perfect. You could beachcomb over 1.5 miles of shoreline made up of soft white sand and enjoy the park’s beautiful atmosphere. It’s among the undeveloped barrier islands on Florida’s southwest coast with a preserve that’s home to plenty of animal species.
After your dip, explore the one-mile marine forest and experience local wildlife like gopher tortoises and nesting turtles. There also are the cactus and butterfly gardens and a Learning Center with natural history exhibits.
Barefoot Beach is also a paddler’s paradise with several concession stands where you could rent a kayak or canoe.
3. Lover’s Key State Park
Situated on a barrier island north of Naples is a collection of beaches where your pets could tag along. At the south of Lover’s Key, Dog Beach has shallow waters and sandy shores where your pet could roam free. Wildlife sightings of dolphins and manatees are common, too.
A wide trail crossing two long bridges is your access to Lover’s Key. If you look down, you might see some fish swimming or alligators cruising.
4. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
The primary reason why beachgoers consistently favor this beach is its natural stretches of dunes and that it’s among the protected beaches in Collier County.
This beautiful stretch of white-sand beach is where you’d find plenty of wildlife. Among the common sightings are eagles, owls, and a significant number of shorebirds.
The water on this beach is clear and shallow, making it ideal for swimming, even for kids. The northern part of the beach, however, is frequented by anglers and is best for fishing.
It’s among the best shelling areas on the coast. Its park also has a bay and an ocean side, perfect for adventurous activities like kayaking and canoeing. If you forgot your gear, there’s a nearby concession stand where you could rent these items.
It is also a family-friendly beach with a children’s playground and covered picnic tables with barbecue grills.
5. Naples Pier Beach
Extending a thousand feet into the ocean, this pier splits the beach into two parts; the southern part is a favorite destination for shell hunters. Apart from shelling, though, it’s a lovely beach by the pier where the whole family could indulge in other fun activities throughout the day.
Its soft sand draws people because the crowd is manageable, and there are nearby restaurants. It also is a romantic setting to watch the sunset or stroll along the pier.
Volleyball nets and sand courts are available where beginners and pro athletes enjoy a variety of beach games.
Note that this beach quickly gets crowded from December to April.
6. South Marco Beach
South Marco Beach is a sandy and beautiful beach that gets quite busy. Groups of people line up to get to the water, and many umbrellas, chairs, and tents are along the shoreline.
There’s a path between Cape Marco and Apollo Condominiums to access the beach. Concession stands offer life jackets and bike racks for rent along this path.
There’s parking on Swallow Avenue, and it’s a short walk across South Collier Boulevard. Note that parking on the streets in the South Beach area is prohibited.
7. Lowdermilk Beach
This public beach in Central Naples gets its appeal from its residential neighborhood backdrop.
Picnic tables punctuate a luscious green area, but you will also see many people enjoying the sunset on their picnic mats. Lowdermilk Beach also offers 8-thatched roof palapas that are free to use for early birds.
For more fun, you could rent paddleboards. It’s not a wide beach, so make sure to come early to avoid the crowd.
8. Seagate Beach
Both locals and tourists head out to this beach to watch the spectacular sunset.
Turn right at Gulfshore Drive from Venetian Village at Park Shore, and you will see a long and paved pathway that leads to this beach.
The ambiance is so relaxing that you’d see people taking off their work jackets and shoes to see the sun say goodbye for the day.
9. 3rd Avenue Beach
Located in downtown Naples and near the bustling 5th Avenue is this beach perfect for relaxing after a day’s work or shopping.
Frequented by families with varied interests in beachcombing and shopping, you could relax on beach chairs (view on Amazon) with adjustable seating positions while waiting for the sunset or be mesmerized by the remnants of an old pier nearby.
10. Clam Pass Park
Over 3,000 feet long, this white sand beach with low coastal vegetation has small waves for families to enjoy a relaxed vibe. It also offers a secluded beach appeal while walking through the mangroves, planking a nearly mile-long boardwalk.
It has a 35-acre wilderness space that’s home to wildlife like turtles and shorebirds. The beach is accessible by an interesting but not too level boardwalk, or you could take a free tram ride from 8 am to sunset.
Some beach parts could get narrow during high tides, but the Pass, an inlet at the north end of the beach, is a favored spot for wading, fishing, and kayaking.
There are free loaner life jackets for added water safety, bike racks, and beach wheelchair for rent. It’s a family-friendly beach, but dogs aren’t allowed.
11. Vanderbilt Beach Park
As among the most popular beaches in Naples, this 5-acre beach park quickly gets packed, and for good reasons.
As a prime location near upscale hotels in North Naples, the beach comes alive as locals and tourists share the soft wind sand and the far stretch of shallow water. It’s wide enough to accommodate everyone, even during the tourist months of January to March, but parking would be a struggle if you come in after 10 am. The beach offers a dedicated parking garage and on-street parking, though.
There are concessions stalls to buy food or rent gear and beach accessories, but it’s not pet-friendly.
12. Tigertail Beach Park
This white-sand beach is ideal for its very shallow water with little to no waves.
Tigertail Beach Park overlooks a shallow lagoon and vegetation in the northern part of Naples. For an oceanfront beach experience, walk around the mangroves and take the path that opens to an expansive shoreline.
A barrier island in the making, it’s an excellent beach for bird watching and tidal pool exploration. The park has a playground with complete facilities perfect for families enjoying the beach with their kids.
Exploring water activities is fun with concession stands that rent out jet skis, paddleboards, and other watersport gear. If you’re up for tours, you could choose between self-guided or guided ones.
13. Little Hickory Island Beach Park
This beach might as well be a hidden gem because it’s a great beach with a spectacular view without the touristy ambiance.
Picnic tables sprinkle the shoreline, and there are covered areas where you could host events like birthday parties.
You could park right across the bridge from access #10, which leads to a nice bike rack. There also is an RV parking right across the bridge.
14. Fort Myers Beach
This beach has an adjacent small park, but its selling point is the public parking just next to it. There also are several options for snacks, food, and some shopping.
It has a long pier with a small gift shop midway, and when you reach the far end, you’d see people fishing, manatee watching, and trying to spot dolphins.
The beach is narrow, but there’s plenty of room to set up camp. There aren’t many shady areas, though, so either keep your summer hat on or prop an umbrella or tent.
Collier County Beach Pass and Parking Permit
Collier County residents get their beach pass and parking permits when they pay their property taxes, allowing them to park free. They may get the stickers at County Park Community Center locations.
While the city ceased to sell beach passes and parking permits to non-residents, visitors may pay for beach parking and access at metered beach parking locations like Seagate Drive beach access and Lowdermilk Park.
Conclusion: 14 Best Collier County Beaches, Florida
Let’s review the best Collier County beaches:
- Keewaydin Island
- Barefoot Beach
- Lover’s Key State Park
- Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
- Naples Pier Beach
- South Marco Beach
- Lowdermilk Beach
- Seagate Beach
- 3rd Avenue Beach
- Clam Pass Beach
- Vanderbilt Beach Park
- Tigertail Beach Park
- Little Hickory Island Beach Park
- Fort Myers Beach
Collier County Beaches’ innately soft and powdery white sand doesn’t make your choice of summer destination easy. Especially in early spring to late summer, the water on these beaches is generally calm and clear that you can see your feet through the water. But if you tie up what each beach has to offer in terms of activities and amenities with what you enjoy most, there’s one – or more – Collier County beach that’s perfect for you!