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(Updated: 11/5/2024)

Current Beach Status

**RED TIDE ALERT - Low to medium concentrations of Karenia brevis, the microscopic algae that causes red tide, has been detected in offshore water samples in Lee County.  It can cause respiratory illness and eye irritation, so please use caution.  Scroll down to learn more about red tide, and for links to useful resources. Conditions change daily and we advise you to stay informed.

**Due to the impacts of Hurricane Milton, some of the public beach park facilities throughout the Fort Myers area are temporarily closed.  Please check back frequently for the current status of our beaches below.** 

Please note that all parking fees are now through a mobile payment system.

Open Public Beach Parks:

  • Bowman's Beach Park (Sanibel Island) $5/hour parking 
  • Gulfside City Park (Sanibel Island) $5/hour parking
  • Tarpon Bay Road Beach (Sanibel Island) $5/hour parking
  • Lighthouse Beach Park (Sanibel Island) $5/hour
  • Dog Beach (Bonita Springs) No restrooms available
  • Bowditch Point Park (Fort Myers Beach) No restroom available. $2/hour parking (may be unavailable due to construction around the area)
  • Yacht Club Beach (Cape Coral)
  • Bonita Beach Park and Bonita Beach Access 1 (Bonita Springs) Bonita Beach Accesses 2-10 are still closed. $2/hour parking
  • Cayo Costa State Park -The beach facing the Gulf of Mexico at Cayo Costa State Park is open daily, 8 a.m. to sunset for those with private vessels. Ferry services, docks, electricity, drinking water and overnight accommodations are not available. Access to the island is not available from Pelican Bay. Restrooms are available on the Gulf side of the island. Please adhere to all posted signs and avoid closed areas.
     

Closed Public Beach Parks:

Currently Closed Long Term:

  • Newton Park Beach (Fort Myers Beach)
  • Causeway Island Parks (Sanibel Causeway)

 

bowman's beach

Explore Our Beaches

Learn more about the beaches in the Fort Myers area.

Parking lot at Bowmans Beach

Beach Parking Fees

Most beaches require a fee to park and they must be paid through a mobile payment system. Payment stations are no longer offered at any of our beaches. Plan ahead and click the link below to learn more about parking at our beaches.

 

Red Drift Algae & Red Tide

It's important to know that Red Tide and Red Drift Algae are two very different things. Check out this graphic to learn more about the differences.

red tide graphic
red tide

 

We highly advise that you use the additional Water Quality resources listed below on this page before planning to visit our beaches. Red Tide can affect your beach experience and it is important to know which beaches are being impacted prior to your visit. These conditions do change daily and we advise you to stay informed.

See a map where water quality samples were taken by clicking here. TIP: Click on a specific point on the map to see the date the sample was taken. We encourage all beachgoers review this daily sampling map prior to visiting their preferred beach park facility.

What is Red Tide?

In this video, learn about red tide's life cycle, what causes "blooms", what areas of Florida are affected by red tide, and more.

Beach Conditions & Water Quality

Beach Conditions Reporting System (Mote Marine Laboratory) - Map displaying beach conditions reports from participating locations

Red Tide Current Sampling Map - Updated bi-weekly by The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commissions (FWC)

Florida Healthy Beaches Program (Florida Department of Health) - Map with beach samples & advisory status

Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF)- A local foundation dedicated to the conservation of coastal habitats and aquatic resources on Sanibel and Captiva islands and in the surrounding watershed.

Algal Bloom Sampling Status - Interactive dashboard allows public to see where algal blooms were occurring in Florida. It features real-time updates, photos and information. Users can search by specific address, ZIP code, city or place. The tool includes quick links to other resources such as public health information. 

Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) - This is an experimental forecast of potential respiratory irritation that may occur because of airborne toxins produced by the red tide organism Karenia brevis. It indicates a greater or lesser likelihood of negative conditions based on predicted wind and ocean currents. Please NOTE: This experimental forecast is currently being tested for efficacy and is not yet an official forecast. Daily availability of the product cannot be assured.

 Lee County's Water Quality Information