A Complete Guide to the Marco Island Beaches Including Tigertail Beach

WONDERING WHAT THE MARCO ISLAND BEACHES ARE LIKE?

We are here to help! We have been visiting the Florida beaches since 2016 and have spent months exploring the Florida coastlines and beach towns.

We love the Marco Island beaches, considered some of the best beaches in the world. It is the longest island in Florida’s Ten Thousand Islands and sits in the Gulf of Mexico in Southwest Florida. The beautiful Marco Island beaches, including Tigertail Beach, are family-friendly, with miles of white sand beaches and stunning water.

In addition to some of Florida’s best Gulf Coast beaches, Marco Island is known for world-class golf courses, delicious Marco Island restaurants, and shopping, as well as the nearby town of Naples and Everglades National Park. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy water sports, bird watching, and outdoor adventures.

The water isn’t as clear as the Caribbean or even the Florida Keys, but it does have a beautiful green color.

There is warm water year-round, which contributes to the appeal of Marco Island Beach, Florida.

Marco Island has two public beaches – Tigertail Beach and South Beach. They are very popular with multiple access points.

Tigertail Beach on Marco Island

430 Hernando Drive, Marco Island, FL 34145
Tigertail Beach Hours: Monday through Sunday, Dawn to Dusk
Tigertail Beach Parking Cost: $8 daily per vehicle or $1.50 per hour for non-beach parking pass holders

Directions to Tigertail Beach on Marco Island

Tigertail Beach on Marco Island is on the northern end of Marco Island off N Collier Blvd. From N. Collier Blvd, go north on Kendall Drive through a neighborhood. Turn left at Hernando Drive and follow the sign taking you to Tigertail Beach. Hernando Drive ends at the entrance to the park.

Typing in the above address on the map app on your phone should take you right to the entrance. You can also search for “Tigertail Beach.” There are also public signs leading you to the beach.

To get to Tigertail Beach on Marco Island from the parking lot, you have two options.

The first is to wade through the tidal lagoon that is right next to the parking area. The depth of the lagoon is about a grown adult’s waist. The lagoon is about 50 yards wide at high tide. This is a much shorter path to get to the beach.

The second option is to walk around the lagoon. We opted for this option because we had our stroller with us. It was about a 10–15-minute walk through the sand from the parking lot to the ocean.

Tip: If you do want to walk around the lagoon, park at the far south end of the parking lot to make your walk shorter.

Overall, it was not a terrible walk, but the lagoon is a much shorter path if you do not mind the wading.

Also, if you do not care about a view of the ocean, the lagoon has wonderful sand and is quite pretty.

Tigertail Beach Rentals

There is a concession stand in the park that rents jet skis, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and other beach necessities.

Tigertail Beach Amenities

We found the amenities at Tigertail Beach to be very clean, and it had everything we needed. There is a picnic area, Tigertail Beach Park, restroom facilities, and food and drink options.

There are also guided tours as well as information if you would like to go on a self-guided tour.

If you have any questions about the amenities available, you can call Parks & Rec at 239.252.4000.

Tip: Be sure to visit the northern tip of Tigertail, known as Sand Dollar Spit. This is a popular place for sand dollars and shells.

Marco Island Public Beach Access

Madeira Beach Access Point

There is a Marco Island public beach access sidewalk between the Royal Seafarer and the Madeira Condominiums at 350 South Collier Blvd. There is no parking here, so you will need to walk, ride a bike, or get dropped off.

Marriott Beach Access Point

This access is off South Collier Blvd near the Marriott Vacation Club. The entry point sidewalk is between the Charger Club and Vacation Club.

The nearest parking is at the Turtle Lot Parking on S. Collier Blvd. It is located at the corner of South Collier Blvd and Valley Ave.

South Beach – Marco Island Public Beaches

We found this Marco Island public beach to be sandy and beautiful, just like Tigertail Beach, but it was busier. Groups were lined 3-4 deep, leading up to the ocean with lots of tents, umbrellas, and chairs set up.

South Marco Beach Public Access

There is a public parking lot for the South Marco public beach access on Swallow Avenue, just a short walk across South Collier Blvd.

Parking and Restroom Facilities

There are 70 paid parking spots with bathroom access. You can pay the $8.00 parking fee at the meter.

Parking on the streets in the South Beach area is not allowed.

South Beach

The path leading to the public beach is between Apollo Condominiums and Cape Marco. Along the path, there are free kids’ life jackets to borrow, as well as bike racks.

Shelling on Marco Island Beaches

Where Can You Go Shelling on Marco Island?

Scattered throughout the sandy white Marco Island beaches, you will find shells. Marco Island is a popular destination for shelling, and my daughter Rowen was in heaven. She is an avid shell collector and came home with what seemed like a suitcase full of shells.

The best place to find the shells is where the tide meets the sand and a bit further up from the waterline, where the ocean debris has accumulated like seaweed. Large shells often get stuck in the seaweed and are passed by others looking for shells.

Tigertail Beach Shelling

The best place for shelling on Marco Island is along the further western beaches. Tigertail Beach is a good place to start, and then walk up through the Sand Dollar Spit. Just keep in mind that live shelling is not allowed.

Sand dollars are very popular on Tigertail, so keep an eye out. Other common shells are the calico scallop, fighting conch, lightning whelk, and horse conch. There are lots of guides online to help you identify the shells you have found.

Keewaydin Island Shelling

Keewayding Island is a barrier island off Marco Island. The west side of the island is a hot spot for shelling. The island is only accessible by boat. The Hemingway Water Shuttle is a straightforward and affordable way to get there.

Get to the island for the best shells. Adult tickets are $22 per person and children are $12 per person.

Marco Island Shelling Tours

There is a great tour that will take you out to Cape Romano. The Shelling at Cape Romano Tour lasts about two hours and will take you through the beautiful waters surrounding Marco Island. When you pass by Kise Island on your tour, keep an eye out for the bald eagles that nest there yearly.

You will get about 45 minutes to explore the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, a private beach, to explore and look for rare shells.

The shells here aren’t nearly as picked over as the shells on Marco Island because there aren’t as many people who come here, so the odds of finding shells to take home are much better.

➡ BOOK YOUR CAPE ROMANO SHELLING TOUR

Nearby Fort Myers also has great places for shelling, like Sanibel Island and Lovers Key State Park. Along with shelling, there are a lot of really fun things to do in Fort Myers.

The Best Time to Go Shelling on Marco Island Public Beaches

The best time to go shelling is an hour before or an hour after low tide. The tide is how the shells make their way up on the beach.

What to Bring Shelling on the Marco Island Beaches

✔ Mesh Shell Bag: A shell bag will make it easy to collect the beautiful shells on Tigertail Beach as well as the other beaches on the island. The mesh allows the sand to fall out, so you aren’t taking a ton of sand in your car. 

➡ SHOP Mesh Shell Bags

✔ Water Bottle: The Florida sun is hot, and you will need to drink a lot of water while out in the sun. We love these better-insulated, hydro-flask bottles because they keep drinks cold for so much longer.

➡ SHOP Hydro-Flask Bottles

✔ Sunscreen: Nothing is worse than heading home from the beach with a bad sunburn. Make sure to have sun protection with you, even in the winter. 

✔ Shelling Stick: A lot of the best shells are out in the water still, and a shelling stick will make finding them a lot easier. Remember, no live shelling.

➡ SHOP Shelling Sticks

How to Clean Your Shells

We love bringing a bag full of shells home as souvenirs from our trip to the beach. I’ve made the mistake of not cleaning them, and by the time we get home, they smell so bad. If anything, make sure you rinse them in fresh water before making the trip home.

1. Rinse in fresh water.
2. Soak overnight in a weak bleach-water solution.
3. Scrub gently with a wire brush.
4. After drying, rub with baby oil to shine.

Marco Island Beaches for Residents

There are also some residents’ beaches on Marco Island. These beaches are open to Marco Island residents or those renting on the island for longer than a month.

Hideaway Beach is only open to members and residents of the Hideaway Beach Club.

To get a pass to the Residents Beach and Sarazen Park South Beach, you need to reach out to the Marco Island Civic Association at 239-642-7778 or apply online. Collier County residents can get their parking stickers at the public library.

Marco Island Dolphin Tour

If you are looking for another fun activity on Marco Island, we highly recommend a dolphin tour with Florida Adventure and Rentals. We’ve had the pleasure of going on many dolphin tours from Clearwater down through Fort Myers and have always had a great time and seen lots of dolphins. Our kids never get tired of seeing the dolphins in their natural habitat.

This tour will take you through the mangroves making up the Ten Thousand Islands area. You will have the opportunity to see dolphins along with lots of different shorebirds. An experienced tour guide will help you spot wildlife as well as tell you about the area’s unique ecosystem and environment.

➡ Book Your Marco Island Dolphin Tour

If you are looking for another idea for Florida beaches to visit, look into the Siesta Key beaches. It is another beautiful area.