The Paradise Coast, made up of Marco Island and Naples, is renowned worldwide for its pristine beaches and excellent restaurants, making it the perfect destination for a getaway. Marco Island boasts some of the most beautiful beaches available in Southwest Florida, with two public beaches – Tigertail Beach and South Beach – for visitors to explore. Visitors can enjoy two beaches in one at Tigertail Beach, or explore its wildlife by climbing a bird-watching tower, exploring tidal pools, and renting kayaks. South Beach allows visitors an opportunity to relax under the sun as well as enjoy amenities such as a parking lot, public restrooms, playground, and picnic facilities. Interested beach-goers should also check out the deserted Keewaydin Island – perfect for shelling and still dog-friendly.
The Paradise Coast is a stunning combination of Marco Island and Naples, located on Florida’s southwest coast. With its proximity to the Florida Keys and the Ten Thousand Islands, Marco Island offers a watery vacationland full of beautiful beaches that are consistently rated among the best in the world. Not only does Marco Island provide plenty of fun things to do, but the area also boasts an array of great restaurants. It is no surprise that Marco Island is such a popular destination for travelers looking for an unforgettable getaway!
Accessing Public Beaches on Marco Island
Marco Island is an incredibly beautiful destination, with many beaches that are unfortunately not publicly accessible. However, the few public beaches on Marco Island, like Tigertail Beach, are some of the best beaches in southwest Florida. Visitors can find out all they need to know about visiting these public beaches in this article, from how to access them, where to park, and even the best spots for shelling. Getting to Marco Island is also easy, as it can be quickly reached by car from Interstate 75 or Rte. 41/Tamiami Trail. Although there are only two public beaches on Marco Island, they do provide a great opportunity to explore the beauty of the island.
Marco Island Beaches
Marco Island proudly boasts two public beaches for visitors to enjoy. Tigertail Beach is a unique beach that offers visitors the chance to experience two different beaches, climb a bird-watching tower, explore tidal pools, go shelling, and rent kayaks and other beach watercraft. South Beach, or Sarazen Beach, is a great family beach with a public parking lot, restrooms, playground, and picnic facilities. Additionally, nearby Keewaydin Island is an excellent choice for beach lovers looking for a deserted beach. With its dog-friendly atmosphere and unparalleled shelling opportunities, Keewaydin Island is worth adding to your Marco Island visit.
Parking at Tigertail and South Beach
Marco Island is home to two beautiful public beaches: Tigertail Beach and South Beach. There are plenty of parking options available, whether you’re visiting for the day or an extended stay. For daily visitors, there is a $8 fee per day to park at either beach. Long-term renters with a 12-month lease can purchase a 12-month beach parking pass for $50 from multiple Collier County community centers. To access Tigertail Beach, simply set your car’s GPS to 480 Hernando Drive and you will find the welcome sign and gate. You can also walk or bike along the main beach. As for South Beach, there are 70 parking spaces available as well as several additional spaces equipped for handicap accessibility. Street parking near South Beach is not allowed.
Beach Access Points
South Marco Beach on Marco Island is the largest public beach access point on the south end of the island. It boasts a half-block walk from South Collier Blvd and offers plenty of parking for visitors, even during peak season. There are free life jackets available on an honor system as well as bike racks for parking. This beach is ideal for families looking to swim, fish, or shell collecting. Dolphins are often spotted in the area adding an extra element of fun! Additionally, there are two public beach access points along South Collier Blvd with no parking lot, but one can easily walk, bike, or get dropped off. Finally, for those staying a month or longer in Marco Island, Residents Beach is accessible with a $140 fee to park at either of the Residents’ Beach parking lots. This beach has many amenities offered and if you come back during the fiscal year, they will issue another pass at no additional cost.
White-Sand Beaches
Tigertail Beach is a truly unique and remarkable place on Marco Island for families and kids to explore. With its white-sand beaches, bird and nature-watching opportunities, tidal pool and barrier island exploration, amazing shelling, and some of the best sunset viewing in the area, it is sure to please all visitors. The inner beach offers hard and compact sand along with some seaweed clumps and shells, while the outer beach across the lagoon boasts the soft white sandy beach many dream of. Whatever your preference may be, Tigertail Beach has something for everyone!
Accessing Tigertail Beach
Tigertail Beach is just a short two-minute walk away from the parking area. This unique beach houses a stunning inner lagoon and estuary and is well-known for its soft white sand and excellent shelling. Visitors can observe this majestic sight captured in the image below, with the parking area located off to the 3 o’clock position. To avoid wading through the lagoon, visitors can park at the farthest end of the parking lot and take the boardwalk around the estuary to get to the beach. Although it may seem like a longer walk, it is worth the extra few minutes as alligators are highly unlikely to be found in these waters due to their dislike for saltwater.
Parking and Alcohol
Tigertail Beach is a prime spot for beachgoers to enjoy the natural beauty of saltwater and its abundance of amenities. With 226 parking spaces, including eight hourly parking spots and six handicapped parking spaces, visitors can easily access the area. Alcohol in non-glass containers is allowed on the beaches and many water activities are available for rent such as kayaks, paddleboards, and beach buggies. Shelling is especially popular here due to the gentle slope of the shore which allows shells to wash up by the millions each day. Kayaking is an excellent way to explore the area and find some amazing shells.
Shelling on Keewaydin Island
Exploring Southwest Florida’s shelling opportunities is a great way to make memories with your family. Renting a boat or taking the Hemingway Water Shuttle from Marco Island will bring you to Keewaydin Island, where you can find an abundance of beautiful shells. The best place to search for them is near the water line, where the ocean has brought in debris, including large shells that may have been overlooked by others. However, it is important to remember when shelling to never collect live sand dollars or any other live shells. If there appears to be a hard covering over the opening of the shell, it is best to return it to its home in the water.
The Beauty of Sand Dollars on Marco Island
Tigertail Beach and the public beaches on Marco Island are home to some of the most beautiful sand dollars in the world. It is important to note that sand dollars that are still alive will be a darkish red/brown color with hundreds of feet moving on its bottom. It is highly encouraged that visitors take only dried, grayish-white shells home with them as taking live shells comes with heavy fines and is wrong. If you have any questions or would like more information, please feel free to get in touch.
The Paradise Coast of Marco Island and Naples is an ideal vacation spot for those hoping to experience some of the best beaches in Florida. Not only can visitors explore warm sand and enchanting beachscapes, but they also can find plenty of restaurants and kid-friendly attractions such as playgrounds and watercraft rentals. In addition to these appealing features, visitors can check out two public beaches on Marco Island—Tigertail Beach and South Beach—plus enjoy a truly secluded experience at nearby Keewaydin Island. Highly recommended for anyone in search of an idyllic beach vacation, the Paradise Coast offers all the delightful scenery and activities that make traveling so worth it.