The best Cape Coral Florida Beaches

Are you planning a trip to Cape Coral and wondering about the best Cape Coral Florida beaches?

Cape Coral is a city located in Lee County, Florida. It is known for its numerous canals and waterways, making it a perfect destination for boating and fishing enthusiasts. The city boasts a warm and tropical climate, with an array of parks and nature preserves for outdoor activities.

Cape Coral is also home to a variety of restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues, making it a great place to visit. Of course, it’s also home to some fantastic beaches!

Cape Coral, Florida is known for its beautiful beaches that attract visitors from all over the world. From soft, white sand to crystal clear waters, Cape Coral’s beaches offer something for everyone. Whether you’re looking to relax on the beach, swim, or take part in water activities, Cape Coral’s beaches won’t disappoint.

Before we get to the list of the best Cape Coral Florida beaches, let’s talk about how you will get around during your vacation. First, unless you drive yourself, you’ll need a rental car! If you decide to rent a car during your Florida vacation, I recommend renting one from Discount USA Car Rental.

Discount USA Car Rental offers the lowest rates through all the major companies, and you don’t pay anything you pick up your car.

Cape Coral Florida Beaches

Okay, let’s learn about the Cape Coral Florida Beaches, listed in no particular order. I will list the Cape Coral Florida beaches that are actually in Cape Coral first, then the beaches near Cape Coral, Florida. So you can also consider this a list of Ft Myers beaches.

Remember that Fort Myers is nearby, so check out 30 things to do in Fort Myers FL when you’re finished here.

Cape Coral Yacht Club Beach

You will find Cape Coral Yacht Club Beach within the Yacht Club Community Park. This area is in the southeastern corner of the Cape. Numerous vacation homes can be found near this Cape Coral Florida beach.

Most of the locals feel like this is the best beach located directly in Cape Coral. It is also one of the only beaches in the Cape that offers views of the Gulf of Mexico.

You see, the city of Cape Coral is located in an area that is bordered by the Caloosahatchee River, as well as Matlacha Pass. There are miles of canals located throughout this city. They all lead to those two bodies of water.

So, you won’t be able to go swimming in the ocean when you are at either of the two public beaches in Cape Coral.

Okay, so back to the beach! When you are not swimming in the water, you may find yourself walking along the pier.

The public boat ramp is a popular spot for getting boats, paddleboards, and kayaks into the water.

In the park area, kids can run around the playground or cool down at the splash pad. Free racquetball courts are available if you want to try a new sport. The community pool is perfect if the beach is too crowded. You can even soak in the hot tub there while the kids are swimming.

There is an hourly parking fee at this Cape Coral Florida beach. Keep that in mind if you plan on spending a few hours there.

It is also important to note that hurricane Ian did a lot of damage to the city of Cape Coral. The Cape Coral Yacht Club Beach is currently closed with no reopening date as of yet. Hopefully, they can get everything back open for everyone to use soon!

Four Freedoms Beach

Four Freedoms Beach is the second of the Cape Coral beaches. You will find this beach on the shoreline of the Bimini Basin. It is just to the south of Cape Coral Pkwy.

You cannot go swimming at this beach. However, it is a perfect place for sunbathing and enjoying a day out in the sun. There are public restrooms and picnic tables at Four Freedoms Park. This is a nice little family beach in the Sunshine State.

Fort Myers Beach

The rest of the Cape Coral Florida beaches are actually outside of Cape Coral. However, your Cape Coral vacation will not be ruined because you can easily take a short drive and get to these beaches in no time at all. Some of the best beaches in Florida are on the outer islands!

Fort Myers Beach is located on Estero Island. This island is connected to the mainland by a bridge.

The beach has 7 miles of soft white sand. There is plenty of space to relax and sunbathe in-between times in the water. Speaking of water, head out into the Gulf of Mexico and participate in a few water sports. This is a great place to go kayaking, paddle boarding, and parasailing.

An area called Times Square is near this favorite beach near Cape Coral. There are a few restaurants and stores in that area. It is also the perfect place to grab those few things you forgot when heading to the beach.

The fishing pier is another popular place to hang out. Head down the pier right before sunset for incredible views.

Gulfside City Park Beach

Gulfside City Park Beach is on Sanibel Island in Southwest Florida. It is one of the barrier islands in the area.

The white sandy beach is perfect for long walks and collecting seashells. In fact, Gulfside City Park Beach is on the list of the best beaches for finding seashells!

Small children will love the playground. Older kids and adults will prefer to spend their time on the volleyball courts or at the fishing pier.

Bowditch Point Regional Park Beach

Nature lovers will want to spend more than a day at this beach in Fort Myers. This beach is surrounded by nature preserves, which are filled with wildlife and birds. You never know when you might spot bald eagles during your time on the nature trails.

When you are not on the walking trails, you will find yourself in the water. Although, picnics on the sand are quite fun too.

Bonita Beach Park

You will need to take the short drive to Bonita Springs to visit Bonita Beach Park. An entire day can be spent at this beach near Cape Coral.

Everyone will love swimming, kayaking, and playing a game of beach volleyball. Don’t forget to take food with you. The charcoal BBQ grills are a great spot to cook a meal to extend your day a little.

Barefoot Beach

Barefoot Beach is also down in Bonita Springs. This is one of the Gulf beaches that offers shallow water for swimming. Families with small children will love being able to swim in the calm water.

The concession area is perfect when everyone gets hungry. And when someone is tired of the sand, the one mile walking trail is a nice distraction.

There is a daily fee for parking at this beach.

Lovers Key State Park and Beach

One of the best Fort Myers beaches is the one at Lovers Key State Park. This beach is right off Estero Blvd. This is one of the best places to go when you want to escape the crowds at Fort Myers Beach.

Your day can be spent walking or biking the trails. You can also go swimming or look for seashells. Palm trees are everywhere at this beach. They are excellent cover for those sunny days.

It is important to note that you cannot take your pets to Lovers Key Beach. This is to prevent wildlife from being disturbed.

Turner Beach

Turner Beach is one of the 3 beaches on Captiva Island. This Captiva Beach isn’t the most popular one on the island. The most popular beach on Captiva is the Andy Rosse Lane Park beach.

During your visit, you should also check out Alison Hagerup Beach Park.

All three of these beaches near Cape Coral offer paddleboard and kayak rentals. You can even head out on one of the kayak tours.

North Captiva Island Beach

The only way you can reach North Captiva Island is by boat or private airplane. So, it isn’t one of the Cape Coral Florida beaches with easy access.

However, it is a nice place to visit when you want to get away from the crowds. You can rent a jet ski or go parasailing while at this beach.

Since this beach is on a remote island, it is important that you pack everything you need for the day. There are no stores to purchase anything from once you arrive on the island.

Boca Grande Beach

The state of Florida is known as the Sunshine State. So, it shouldn’t be surprising that I am still listing Cape Coral beaches. There are too many days of sunshine to skip out on visiting any of these beaches during a Cape Coral vacation!

You will find Boca Grande Beach on Gasparilla Island. Free parking is limited. But if you do find some, it will be on 19th Street.

Place your towels or blankets under one of the swaying palm trees. You may want to bring a windbreak shelter due to the strong offshore winds in the afternoons.

Boca Grande is one of our favorite beaches in the area and also one of The best places to find shark teeth in Florida.

Bunche Beach

Bunche Beach is one of the hidden gems of Lee County. Not too many people outside the locals know this beach exists on San Carlos Bay. It is the perfect spot to escape the people and still visit one of the most beautiful beaches in the United States.

During your visit, you can go swimming, birdwatching, or kayaking in the mangroves in the nature preserve. During the summer months, you can easily find some shade while out on your kayak.

Families with small children will love the shallow sand flats at this beach near Cape Coral. These sand flats are further out in the water. Kids always love going out further than they normally would while at the beach.

Pro tip: Check the tide before heading to this beach. If it is high tide, there won’t be much beach available for sitting on the sand.

Cayo Costa State Park

Cayo Costa State Park is located on Cayo Costa Island. This is another island you can only reach by boat or kayak.

The beaches on this island are unspoiled and filled with sand dunes. Some of the best things to do at these beaches include swimming, snorkeling, and searching for shells. Inland, you can wander along the walking trails.

When you are planning your dream vacation away from the largest city in Florida, you may want to add Cayo Costa Island to your list. It is a good place to spend some time alone.

Bowman’s Beach

Bowman’s Beach is another one of the beaches on Sanibel island. This is one of the more isolated beaches near Cape Coral. Due to its isolation, you must walk approximately 5 minutes from the parking area to the small beach.

It is totally worth it, especially when you see all the shells waiting for you in the sand.

Tigertail Beach

Tigertail Beach is one of the many beaches located on Marco Island. This public beach is family-friendly.

There are 2 options for reaching this beach from the parking lot. You can either wade through the lagoon. Or you can walk around the lagoon. The former will obviously be much quicker, while the latter will take about 15 minutes.

The concession stand at this beach rents kayaks, paddleboards, jet skis, and anything else you might need for a fun day in the water.

One of the best parts about Tigertail Beach is they offer guided tours. These tours are an excellent way to learn about the surrounding area.

Pine Island Beaches

Many people often wonder if there are beaches on Pine Island. Honestly, there really aren’t. You are better off looking into boat rentals. You can then take the boat to one of the best beaches near Cape Coral Florida.

Cape Coral Florida Beaches

I hope this list of Cape Coral Florida beaches gives you some ideas for where to spend time in the sand during your vacation. What is your favorite beach near Cape Coral or Fort Myers? Make sure to let us know in the comments!

More SW Florida Travel Tips

Don’t forget to check out even more things to do in SW Florida:

• The 26 Best Places to Eat in Venice Florida
• The best Gulf Beaches in Florida
• The 28 best places to eat in Naples
• 15 fantastic things to do in Siesta Key

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