Lovers Key State Park
Fort Myers Beach, FL
Lovers Key State Park spans four barrier islands south of Fort Myers Beach, with the main beach reached by a wood bridge about 1,000 feet from the parking lot. Mangrove estuaries and tidal lagoons back the beach itself, drawing manatees, ospreys, and enough shorebirds to make the walk in as much a wildlife watch as a beach commute.
The mangrove backdrop and wildlife make it feel different from a typical barrier island beach, though losing the tram means the walk in is a real factor now, especially in summer heat.
How we score beachesThe tram that used to shuttle people to the beach was discontinued for resiliency work on the park, so budget the actual walk time now, about 1,000 feet over the wood bridge or a half mile via the south concrete bridge. Kayak rentals near the entrance are a good way to see the mangrove side most beachgoers skip.
The entrance fee is 8 dollars per vehicle, 4 dollars for a single occupant. The main lot has an overflow area for busy spring break weekends, but expect a real walk in now that the tram is gone.
The wood bridge from parking lot one is flat and about 1,000 feet, the shortest route to the beach. Soft sand starts at the bridge's end, a longer trip for strollers than the boardwalk itself suggests.
Leashed dogs are welcome on the park's trails, but pets aren't allowed on the beach itself; Bonita Beach Dog Park a few minutes away is the nearest real alternative.
Winter and spring bring the mildest weather and the best manatee sightings in the calmer estuary water, while summer's heat and hurricane season, June through November, make the walk in from the lot feel longer. Gulf water here stays swimmable nearly year round.
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