Did you know…
Island residents can use 20 beach access locations on Sanibel not available to the general public?
These beach access points are distributed all around the coast of the island, giving residents access to both Gulf and Bay side beaches.
Our family uses these beach accesses to avoid beachgoer crowds – even during our busiest tourist season. What’s nice is there are no hassles of finding parking, AND most spots are even in the shade!
Here’s a list of Sanibel’s beach accesses, highlighting the public beach access points along with the residential lots.
I have to admit, our favorites are beach access #6 and #7 at the far end of West Gulf Drive. This beach is lined with gorgeous waterfront homes and far away from the busy condo complexes.
This part of the island reminds us a lot of “Old Sanibel” with its quiet bliss and natural beach elements. Most of the time we’re so far from anyone else that it is like having a private beach to ourselves. This is especially great since we have four kids (plus their friends) that like to run around, laugh and splash.
Though we have our favorites, we like to visit the other beaches every so often to see what new things we discover. I encourage you to do the same! In fact, we’d love to hear which beaches you prefer, and any insider tips you have to offer.
After all, going to the beach on Sanibel should be a fun and enjoyable experience – even during peak season. We hope this helps!
Click here for more info on Sanibel beaches and a Sanibel beach map.
