We're happy to report that despite the impacts of Hurricane Milton, most of the public beach park facilities throughout the Fort Myers area are open.  

Please note that most parking fees are through a mobile payment system. Also, starting May 1, 2025, several beaches will offer a new parking system with the ability to pay by text message, a mobile app, through a website or at a kiosk. Learn more here. 

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 parking. The Gulfside parking lot is open; the two bayside parking lots are currently closed.
• Blind Pass Beach (Sanibel Island) $5/hour
• Causeway Island Parks (Sanibel Causeway)
• Turner Beach (Captiva 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)
• San Carlos Bay-Bunche Beach Preserve (Fort Myers) $2/hour parking
• Yacht Club Beach (Cape Coral)
• Crescent Beach Family Park (Fort Myers Beach) 
• Lynn Hall Memorial Park (Fort Myers Beach) $2/hour parking
• 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.
• Lovers Key State Park (Bonita Springs) $8/vehicle for the day parking (hiking trails are still closed)
• Gasparilla Island State Park (Boca Grande and Outer Islands) The Range Light Parking Lot and the Sea Grape Parking Lot are open. Parking: $3/vehicle, $2/pedestrian or cyclist
• Boca Grande Beach Accesses (Boca Grande and Outer Islands) are open on the following streets: 1st, 10th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 17th and 19th.
• Alison Hagerup Beach Park (Captiva Island) Parking: 1 hour - $15, 2 hours - $25, all day (dawn to dusk) - $40

Closed Public Beach Parks:

• Fort Myers Beach Accesses #11-14; #16; #19-24; #27-28; #30 & #36 Parking: $5/hour 
• The main parking lot at the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse is closed.

Currently Closed Long Term:

• Newton Park Beach (Fort Myers Beach)

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