Complete Guide to Captiva & Sanibel Island, Florida Beaches with parking information, shelling, hours, address, and what you need to know to plan the best beach trip.
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Sanibel Beach Guide
Each of the Sanibel Island public beaches has something unique to offer for your beach day!
The best beach on Sanibel Island is going to depend on what you want to enjoy or experience.
In this Sanibel Island Best Beaches Guide, we break down each beach with information on parking, amenities (restrooms, showers, barbecue grills, ease of access), and share our favorite beaches for shelling, sunset, and relaxing.
The beautiful beaches of Sanibel & Captiva Island are some of our favorite places to visit. During our last Sanibel & Captiva Island Long Weekend Trip we made it a point to visit every beach park on the islands to see how repairs and restoration work has been going.
Lighthouse Beach Park
Lighthouse Beach Park recently underwent a sand renourishment project so it has soft sand and more space to relax.
The beach is excellent for walking, some shelling depending on the tides.
The fishing pier is not open currently due to hurricane damage. Crews continue to work on restoration work.
Address - 110/153 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, Florida
Hours - Open 24 hours a day
Parking - Parking is $5 an hour and needs to be paid via the mobile parking payment app.
Free Handicapped parking in any designated parking space.
Lighthouse Beach Park is POPULAR! Arrive early for the best parking spaces.
Amenities - Restroom facilities, outdoor showers, bike racks, drinking fountains
Causeway Islands Park
Causeway Island Park can be found along the Sanibel Causeway. There are two islands designated A and B as you cross into Sanibel.
The Causeway Islands Parks have re-opened and look amazing! Lots of work has been done to build parking areas and recreational space.
Sanibel Island Causeway Beaches are easy to access and great for a quick walk. Fishing is allowed with a saltwater fishing license if you plan to fish from shore.
Address - 19931 Sanibel Causeway Rd, Sanibel, FL 33957
Hours - Dawn to Dusk
Parking - Free parking
Amenities - Free parking, temporary bathrooms
Bowman's Beach Park
Bowman's Beach on Sanibel Island, Florida, is perfect for beach walks, swimming, shelling, and relaxing on the Gulf.
This Sanibel Beach Park has great amenities perfect for a family day at the beach. Bowman's Beach has restrooms, changing rooms, bbqs, and picnic tables.
Address - 1700 Bowman's Beach Road, Sanibel, FL
Hours - Open 24 hours a day
Parking Fee - Parking is $5 an hour and needs to be paid via the mobile parking payment app.
Free Handicapped parking in any designated parking space.
Amenities - Restrooms, changing rooms, picnic tables, BBQs, short walking trail, water fountains, kayak launch.
Gulfside City Beach Park (Algiers Beach)
Gulfside City Park is also known as Algiers Beach. We love walking along the shoreline at Gulfside City Park looking for shells. It is absolutely gorgeous. Keep an eye out for dolphins as you are enjoying the beach.
Address - 2001 Algiers Lane, Sanibel, FL
Hours - Open 24 hours a day
Parking - Parking is $5 an hour and needs to be paid via the mobile parking payment app.
Free Handicapped parking in any designated parking space.
Amenities - Restrooms, outdoor showers, ADA Accessible mats onto the beach, covered picnic area with barbecue grills, bike racks.
Blind Pass Beach Park
The currents are really strong at Blind Pass Beach park, swimming is not permitted.
Blind Pass Beach is a great Sanibel Beach for shelling! The tides bring in shells and many days you will find them stretched along the shoreline especially at low tide.
Address - 6497 Sanibel Captiva Road, Sanibel, Florida
Hours - Open 24 hours a day
Parking - Parking is $5 an hour and needs to be paid via the mobile parking payment app.
Free Handicapped parking in any designated parking space.
Amenities - ADA Accessible, bike racks
Causeway Beach Park
Causeway Beach Park is a small beach area next to the boat ramp near the Causeway. This small beach is perfect for relaxing with a great book, sunbathing, and watching the boats go by.
There is a restroom nearby that is shared with the boat ramp. Make sure to pay for parking! Everytime we have been at this beach we have seen parking enforcement drive through.
Address - 888 Sextant Drive, Sanibel, FL
Hours - Open 24 hours a day
Parking - Parking is $5 an hour and needs to be paid via the mobile parking payment app.
Free Handicapped parking in any designated parking space.
Amenities - ADA Accessible, bike racks, restrooms, picnic area, grills
Tarpon Bay Road Beach Park
Tarpon Bay Road Beach Park is great for shelling, walking the beach, sunbathing, and swimming.
The parking area is down the road a little bit so you will want to be prepared for the walk.
Address - 111 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel, FL
Hours - Open 24 hours a day
Parking - Parking is $5 an hour and needs to be paid via the mobile parking payment app.
Free Handicapped parking in any designated parking space.
Amenities - Bike racks, outdoor showers, drinking fountains, restrooms, picnic areas
Sanibel Beach Mile Markers
Speaking from experience it is really easy to get focused on shelling and walking the beach and forget to look up and see how far you have walked.
During one of our Sanibel trips I had to call my husband to come out and shine his phone flashlight so I could find the right access back to the car. I had gotten so lost in shellling I didn't realize how far I had walked. OOPS!
Sanibel has beach mile markers to help you track where you are on the beach. They are spread out from Lighthouse Beach to West Gulf Drive Beach Access.
- 0 - Lighthouse (Gulfside Parking Lot)
- ½ - Buttonwood Lane Beach Access (Gulfside)
- 1 - Beachcomber Condo Association (East Gulf Drive)
- 1-½ - Sanibel Moorings Condo Association (East Gulf Drive)
- 2 - East of Nerita Street Beach Access
- 2-½ - Sundial East Condo Association (Middle Gulf Drive)
- 3 - Gulfside Place Condo Association (Middle Gulf Drive)
- 3-½ - Gulfside City Beach Park (Algiers Lane)
- 4 - Casa Ybel Beach Resort (West Gulf Drive)
- 4-½ - East side of Tarpon Bay Road Beach Access (West Gulf Drive at Tarpon Bay Road)
- 5 - Nutmeg Village Condo Association (West Gulf Drive)
- 5-½ - East side of Island Inn Resort (West Gulf Drive)
- 6 - West Wind Island Resort (West Gulf Drive)
- 6-½ - West Gulf Drive Beach Access # 1 (450 feet +/- East of access)
- 7 - West Gulf Drive Beach Access # 3
If you get lost or need help, these mile markers are a great way to alert others to your location
Additional information on planning a trip to Sanibel Beaches
Beach Wheelchairs - Billy's Rentals has beach wheelchairs available for rent.
Dogs/Pets - Dogs are allowed on Sanibel Beaches but must be on a handheld leash.
Fishing - A valid Florida fishing license is required.
Sanibel Beach Parking - Parking is $5 an hour and needs to be paid via the mobile parking payment app.
Free Handicapped parking in any designated parking space.
Captiva Beach Guide
One thing to know when visiting Captiva Beaches is that dogs are not allowed. They are allowed on Sanibel Beaches.
Turner Beach
Turner Beach is located on the Captiva Side of the Blind Pass Bridge between Sanibel and Captiva. Turner Beach has a small parking area that is really popular.
A lot of people park at Blind Pass Beach Park on the Sanibel Side and will walk over depending on which parking lot has availability.
Address - 17200 Captiva Dr. Sanibel, Florida
Hours - Dawn to Dusk
Parking - There is pay by the hour parking with an easy text or online payment. Parking is $5 an hour and needs to be paid via the mobile parking payment app.
Amenities - Restrooms, kayak launch
Andy Rosse Lane Park
Andy Rosse Lane Park has two beach parks on the East and West ends of the lane.
The West End of Andy Rosse Lane has access to beaches on the Gulf. The only access is for foot trafic.
The East end of Andy Rosse Lane has access to the bay side.
Address - 11570 Andy Rossse Lane, Captive, Florida
Hours - Dawn to Dusk
Parking - Andy Rosse Lane Park has two beach parks on the East and West ends of the lane. The West end has no parking areas. The East end has a tiny parking area.
Amenities - There are no amenities at Andy Rosse Lane Park. Most of the area is vacation rentals and restaurants.
Alison Hagerup Beach Park
Alison Hagerup Beach Park is a great park for sunset, relaxing, beach walks, and shelling.
There is a nice size parking area now for the beach park with temporary bathrooms set up during restoration.
Address - 14790 Captiva Drive, Captiva, FL
Hours - Dawn to Dusk
Parking - Paid beach parking via the ParkMobile App. 1 hour is $15, 2 hours is $25, all day is $40.
Amenities - Restrooms
Additional information on planning a trip to Captiva Beaches
Beach Wheelchairs - Billy's Rentals has beach wheelchairs available for rent.
Dogs/Pets - Dogs are NOT allowed on Captiva Island Beaches
Fishing - A valid Florida fishing license is required.
Shelling on Sanibel and Captiva Island Beaches
If you are heading to Sanibel and Captiva to enjoy shelling please make sure you are prepared! Don't forget to bring sunscreen, BUG SPRAY! and your shelling tools so you can have the best experience.
Shelling Tools
Shelling Set - This set has a sifter, shell scoop, shell bag, and foldable bucket
Shell bags - I like to carry a couple of different bags so I can seperate any small shells from large conch shells.
Sand Rake - Scoop shells out to make it easier to see them
Shark Tooth Sand Sifter Set - Portable beach sand sifter to look for shark teeth and shells
Captiva & Sanibel Island Restaurants and Attractions
Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge - Epic wildlife drive filled with amazing bird watching.
Sanibel Island Shell Museum - Learn more about the shells you find on the beaches of Sanibel and Captiva along with worldwide shells
Doc Ford's Sanibel - an icon of the area. One of the best restaurants on Sanibel!
The Bubble Room Captiva - The Bubble Room has reopened with an amazing menu and their world famous cakes!
Sanibel & Captiva Island Lodging
If you are visiting and need to book accommodations, here are our recommendations.
Residence Inn Ft Myers Sanibel - Located right off the island is a great hotel with outdoor pool. Book here
Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort - Right off the Sanibel Causeway this Marriott has great rooms, an epic pool and easy access to the island. Book here
We also have articles on the Emerald Coast of Florida, including Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Pensacola Beach, Navarre Beach, Panama City Beach, Perdido Key, Pensacola, Sanibel and Captiva Island, and more.
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