Top beaches to visit in Naples, FL

Aside from the diverse selection of golf courses that drive the thriving golf scene in the area, Naples, Florida is also known as a resort city: a beach destination for locals and tourists alike. In fact, the entire Paradise Coast area in Collier County, which includes Naples and nearby cities, sees more than two million visitors every year. Tourism in Naples is a multi-billion dollar industry, creating jobs, enabling thousands of careers, and earning millions in tax revenue each year.

What makes the beaches in Naples, FL attractive to visitors and residents is the fine, white sand and the breathtaking sunset views of the Gulf of Mexico. It’s also a great beach town with plenty of fun outdoor and water activities for both families and friends to enjoy. Many beaches are equipped with amenities to accommodate visitors’ needs as well.

If you’re planning a trip to enjoy the beaches in Naples, FL with friends or family, this guide will take you through some of the best beaches in the city and give you some tips to get ready for a fun stay.

TOP BEACHES TO VISIT IN NAPLES, FL

Naples, Florida has approximately 9 miles of coastline with 40 beach access points. Some parts of the coast have soft, fine white sand while others are lined with mangrove forests. The city also includes two passes, Doctors Pass and Gordon Pass, which provide opportunities for fishing, kayaking, boating, and observing the local wildlife.

With so many spots to choose from, deciding on a beach to visit boils down to one’s personal preferences.

Here are 7 of our highly recommended beaches to visit in Naples, FL:

Go directly to:

1. Barefoot Beach Preserve
2. Clam Pass Park
3. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
4. Keewaydin Island Beach
5. Lowdermilk Park
6. Naples Pier Beach
7. Vanderbilt Beach

Vanderbilt Beach Park is one of the most popular and busiest beaches in Naples, FL. It’s a 5-acre beach park in northern Naples that’s perfect for families and friends to swim and enjoy a day under the sun.

Amenities. The beach offers amenities such as restrooms, foot showers, bike racks, a life jacket loaning system, and beach wheelchairs. You can also find picnic areas with tables and grills. If you’re looking for a quick bite, there are restaurants around the area offering a variety of breakfast, brunch, and seafood menu items.

Parking. Vanderbilt Beach also has its own parking garage and street parking a short walk from the beach. Parking costs around $10 for those who don’t have a Collier County resident beach parking permit. If you’re looking to visit during peak season from January through March, you can secure a good parking spot before 10 a.m. Dogs aren’t allowed on the beach.

If you’re looking for a unique experience, you can do many things aside from swimming and sunbathing at Clam Pass Park in north Naples. The beach is pristine with soft, white sand and clear waters. The sunset views of the Gulf are stunning and attract plenty of visitors and locals. These make Clam Pass Park the most popular public beach in Naples.

Attractions. The beach isn’t only the highlight of Clam Pass. The park encompasses 35 acres of coastal habitat and nature preserves, allowing you to marvel at the landscape, local flora, and fauna. You may even be able to spot butterflies and coastal birds such as the white ibis, tricolored heron, or a red-bellied woodpecker during your trip there. One of the beach access points is a three-quarter-mile boardwalk that leads you through a sprawling mangrove forest that ends in the beach.

The “pass” which the area is named for, is a narrow strip of calm, waist-deep waters that’s perfect for paddling, wading, and fishing. Guided tours of the area are offered by the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, depending on the season.

Amenities and parking. Amenities at the Clam Pass Park include a free tram ride to the beach, bike racks, foot showers, and a life jacket loaner program. If you want to explore and do more at the beach, there are canoe, kayak, watersport, and beach gear rentals in the vicinity. The area has solar beach parking meters (credit cards only) and a parking fee of $10 per day for those who don’t have the Collier County beach parking pass.

With about a mile of white sand, Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park can be your go-to beach if you enjoy a laid-back afternoon of swimming, sunbathing, or looking for pretty shells with friends and family. You can also linger to watch the gorgeous Gulf sunset on the beach. 

Attractions. The main attraction of the Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is the fishing opportunities. At a pass where the river meets the sea, anglers are allowed to reel in snook, red drum and sea trout. Generally, a fishing license is required. You can find more information about fishing in the park on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s official website.  

Another fun activity to try is geo-seeking. The game involves looking for hidden objects along the beach using a GPS device. Location coordinates are posted on a website and you can use that to look for the hidden items.

Amenities. The beach park offers guided tours and an events pavilion for rent. You can also find a picnic area, grills, and boat ramps. Naples Beach Adventures, the park’s concessionaire, offers food and beverages, and rents out umbrellas, beach chairs, and water sports equipment. Pet dogs are allowed in specific areas as long as they’re kept on a leash.

Coast, the area has white sand beaches, clear green waters, and captivating sunset views. If you’re looking to spend a laid-back day on the beach, Lowdermilk Park is the perfect fit.

Amenities. The best part of Lowdermilk Beach is the children’s playground, making it a perfect place for families with small children to relax and play. Lowdermilk Park has convenient amenities, such as quaint beach huts, picnic tables, sand volleyball courts, and two event gazebos for rent.

Parking and ADA access. The park also provides amenities for accessibility, including rental beach wheelchairs and ADA beach access mats for people with disabilities. Parking can be secured by obtaining a City of Naples beach parking permit or paying for a space.

The iconic, 1,000-foot-long Naples Pier has long been a must-visit landmark in Naples, FL. The historic pier has provided great views of the sunset on the Gulf since it was first constructed in 1888. It has been rebuilt and renovated numerous times following the effects of hurricanes through the years. As of October 2024, the pier remains closed and under repair but a few people have ventured out to the beach. You can watch a live video of the Naples Pier here.

Amenities. Regular amenities include showers, restrooms, and ADA beach access mats. Beach volleyball is the preferred sport. The Naples Pier Beach is located near downtown, making it a good place to unwind after a day of work and errands. Check the Naples Pier amenities page on the Paradise Coast tourism website or the official Naples Pier construction update website for more information. 

Parking. Parking is available to beach parking permit holders but visitors can pay by space. 

Barefoot Beach Preserve is the best place to explore if you’re looking for a more adventurous beach experience. The preserve covers 342 acres of natural wildlife habitat and is one of the last undeveloped areas on Florida’s coasts. You can access the beach through Bonita Beach Road and Lely Barefoot Boulevard.

Amenities. The beach is relatively peaceful and will appeal to those who want to spend a quiet day sunbathing and listening to the sounds of the water. Barefoot Beach Preserve has limited amenities, including picnic pavilions and a restroom.

Parking. The beach also offers a 96-space parking lot which costs $10 for those without the Collier County Resident Beach Parking permit. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on Barefoot Beach Preserve.

Where is the best beach to go when all the beaches in Naples, FL are crowded? You can hop on a boat and sail to Keewaydin Island Beach and enjoy a somewhat private afternoon on this barrier island between Naples and Marco Island. Most of the island is undeveloped and the rest of it is occupied by private homeowners, so you can enjoy a quiet afternoon with your friends and family on the island. Dogs are also allowed on the beach, as long as they’re on a leash.

Getting there. Visiting Keewaydin Island is convenient if you have a boat so you can depart at leisure. However, there are water shuttles, boat trips, and rentals available as well. You can try the Hemingway Water Shuttle that departs from Rose Marina on 951 Bald Eagle Drive on Marco Island.  The Sweet Liberty and Miss Naples are a couple of sightseeing boat trips heading out into Catamaran that stop regularly at the island. 

Food and drink. As it is largely undeveloped, Keewaydin Island Beach does not have accessible features, but the Hemingway Water Shuttle is accessible. There are also no facilities and concessions on the island itself, but a food barge called Just Beachy Burgers & More regularly stops by the island and serves burgers, ice cream, tacos, and drinks. Another food barge called In the Pink specializes in ice cream. If you plan to pack your picnic, check if your boat rental service or water shuttle service allows outside food and drink onboard.

Facilities. Both the Sweet Liberty and Miss Naples have restrooms and food, while the Hemingway Water Shuttle loans out chairs and umbrellas. The Rose Marina where the Hemingway Shuttle docks offers free parking to passengers.

THE ESSENTIAL NAPLES, FL BEACH TRIP CHECKLIST

Wherever you’re from, you need to prepare a few essentials before going on a trip to the best beaches in Naples, FL. Here is a checklist of things to bring if you plan to spend a day on the gorgeous Paradise Coast.:

360° sun and heat protection

The most obvious thing to pack first if you’re going on a beach trip is sun and heat protection. This includes sunscreen, cooling aloe gel, wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, umbrellas, and handheld fans. If you’re experiencing headaches, dizziness, nausea, or lethargy, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Insect protection

Remember to pack your preferred insect repellant if you are visiting some beaches in the evenings for the iconic Southwest Florida sunset, especially if you plan to explore the mangroves or go hiking. Mosquito season in the area typically lasts from March until October, when temperatures range from 70 to 90 degrees. You can opt for plant-based (citronella, lemon eucalyptus, peppermint) or synthetic (DEET, IR-3535, Picaridin) repellents.

Hydration

Don’t forget to pack your water and fill up those gigantic tumblers to ensure hydration at all times. If there are snack bars or kiosks on the beach, you can also rely on them to keep your fluid intake up.

Food and drink

If you’re headed to the following beaches, indul

• The Turtle Club on Vanderbilt Beach offers seafood-focused fine dining with stunning sunset views
•  Baleen at La Playa, also on Vanderbilt Beach, provides an upscale oceanfront dining experience with refined global cuisine and a romantic beachfront setting at La Playa Beach & Golf Resort
• Gumbo Limbo, at Pelican Bay Beach near The Ritz-Carlton, is a casual, open-air restaurant serving tropical cocktails and seafood with panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico

Waterproof bags and containers

Beach bags will keep your valuables safe and dry. Beach pails may prove handy for stashing wet swimsuits as well.

Beach toys and flotation devices

Keep the kids engaged for hours with beach balls, sand buckets and shovels, inflatables, kites, frisbees, and boogie boards. For younger children, supervise their time on the water with flotation devices like swim vests and arm floaties.

Keep cool – or warm

Depending on the time of day or season, wear what will keep you comfortable. If it’s humid and sweltering, breathable and Dri-FIT or its equivalent, moisture-wicking or performance fabric, is best as it keeps moisture away from the body. During the winter months, temps in Naples, FL dip to an average high of 78 degrees, so you can still go swimming.

Footwear

You can go barefoot or slip on flip-flops when the sand is hot. Sandals or trainers might be prudent if you plan on exploring the habitat preserves of Barefoot Beach Preserve, Clam Pass Park, or Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park.

LIVE WITHIN MINUTES OF THE BEST BEACHES IN NAPLES, FL

Life on the Paradise Coast isn’t complete without the breathtaking white sand beaches overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Thankfully, there are plenty of options to choose from if you plan to buy property close to the beautiful beaches in Naples, FL

The Wolleon Group can make it happen. We are a team of real estate experts and professionals specializing in the real estate markets of Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero, and South Fort Myers. We are relentless in our quest to help our clients reach their goals. The importance of choosing the right home or investment property to suit your lifestyle is something we take seriously, and your search will be treated with care and diligence every step of the way

Browse homes for sale in Naples, FL here

Let’s get you started on your journey to the perfect property closest to the picturesque Naples, FL beaches. Call us at 239.207.9752 or message us here to get started.