Cancel

Open app

Search

Gulfside City Park

4.4 (16 reviews)

Gulfside City Park Photos

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Gulfside City Park

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Rachel M.

Loved this beach especially because we haven't been to this one before. We are always by the lighthouse but I wanted to check out something different. This one is a gem. What makes this beach perfect? 1. Up Close parking 2. Not a far walk to the beach 3. A walking mat to make it easier to walk to the beach 4. Distance to the beach from the parking lot is minimal. 5. Bathrooms, showers 6. Picnic tables and BBQ grills - bring your charcoal etc. It's $5 an hour to park. Sanibel beaches are dog friendly. There are shells galore and you can feel them in the water too. Love this spot and I can definitely enjoy the change from the usual go to spot!!!

My new favorite place ....
Lisa B.

I love this beach. Both times we went it was an overall enjoyable experience. The part has bathroom facilities and outdoor picnic area with bbq grills. You don't need a permit to use the the picnic area. The only downside is that they do charge for parking which is $10 per day. There is no parking attendant you just pay at the machine and put your ticket in the window.

Juju G.

This is by far one of my favorite beaches in Sanibel. First of all because the parking lot is very small so the beach never really gets crowded and is very peaceful to spend the day here. I also found the most beautiful shells at gulfside city beach park, probably because there aren't as many people hunting for them here as there are at the other beaches. I even found a dead crab by the shore on our last trip and terrorized my kids with it for a little while. As for the water, it is very clear but not as shallow as Lighthouse beach so I would recommend a kiddie pool if you have toddlers or babies. The park also features bathroom facilities and showers as well as barbecue grills. Parking cost is $5 per hour per car but the price is totally worth it if you enjoy a peaceful, uncrowded day at the beach. Read more about things to do on Sanibel Island and SWFL on my blog www.jujugurgel.com

Klaudia D.

Decent beach and nice water. What nobody mentioned is the bugs. We were on the beach for 15 minutes and we were eaten alive by no-see-ums. Haven't ever heard about these bugs but beware. It's worse than the mosquito bites and they just won't go away. But hey, they allow dogs so that's a plus.

Ariel W.

There are no bad beaches in Sanibel. The more popular place to park is probably around the lighthouse. If that is full it is good to know about this spot located off Casa Ybel Road. The beach is known as Algiers Beach after a steamboat that once pulled ashore here. It has all of the shells on the beach Sanibel is known for. You pay for parking at the pay station machines in the lot and they take debit and credit cards. Parking was $5 an hour when I visited. Amenities include bathrooms, picnic tables, and grills for cooking out.

Daniella K.

The road is easy to miss, but there isn't a lot of public parking on Sanibel, so this one is a good site to try during the busier days. Located Off Casa Ybel Road - Midsection of Island 27.5 Acres of city owned land Bike racks Drinking fountain Outside showers Restrooms (only two stalls) Picnic Areas Shade Pavilion Barbeque grills 46 parking spaces $5.00 per hour parking fee Handicapped accessible (free handicapped parking)

See all

5 months ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 2
Love this 2
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 18
Thanks 2
Love this 14
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 11
Thanks 0
Love this 11
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0
Photo of Juju G.
440
105
1274

7 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ariel W.
4398
5931
104190

8 years ago

Helpful 8
Thanks 0
Love this 8
Oh no 0
Photo of Daniella K.
219
124
837

8 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of Leo II ..
1
888
1417

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Sandra H.
84
36
33

7 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Easy access to beach from parking. Clean restrooms. Shallow water. Favorite beach so far!

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 years ago

It's ok the experience was not enjoyable for me and haven't been back since so I feel I might be a little biased on this because of that!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

Ask the Community - Gulfside City Park

Review Highlights - Gulfside City Park

We are always by the lighthouse but I wanted to check out something different.

Mentioned in 3 reviews

Read more highlights

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Beaches 1,630 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Bowman's Beach - I'm pretty sure my birthstone is a seashell.

Bowman's Beach

4.0(166 reviews)
6.1 mi

We drove from Lakeland--about 2 hours and 40 minutes, mostly straight highway--and it was totally…read moreworth it for a perfect day trip. Even if you're a few hours away, don't hesitate. If you love shells, beach walks, wildlife, or sunsets--this place is magic. Arrival & Parking: We arrived around 10 AM on a Tuesday in November and had no problem finding parking. The lot is bigger than some reviews claimed--easily fits 40-50 cars--and I noticed there was also a secondary parking lot nearby. At the entrance, there's a pay station where you can pay by the hour (card or phone). Super easy, and you can extend your time right from your phone. You even get a 15-minute alert before your time is up--so helpful! There are clean restrooms and outdoor showers right near the parking area. From there, you follow a walking path toward the beach, and you cross a bridge over a little river. Look in the water--there were manatees swimming! We also saw turtles, pelicans, and other birds along the trail. Such a beautiful start. On the Beach: Once you step onto the sand, it feels like you're in a shell collector's dream. Just like all the YouTube videos and blog posts--you really do find beautiful shells everywhere, especially medium and small ones. The beach is large--both in width and length--so even though there were a lot of people, it never felt crowded. Everyone had plenty of space to relax. Dogs are allowed on leash (we brought ours), and we saw several other friendly dogs too. Bring water for them--it gets hot fast. There is no natural shade on the beach. Trust me--bring a pop-up tent or canopy and a rolling beach cart if you have one. We had a big lay-down tent and it made a huge difference. If I go again, I'd definitely bring a rolling cart for our gear. Things You Absolutely Want To Bring (Mandatory): -Zinc sunscreen (Florida sun is no joke--even in November). -Water shoes or sturdy sandals (shells in the water can be sharp). -Bug spray (my friend got sand flea bites, I didn't--but it's possible). -Lots of water and snacks for you and your dog (heat + humidity = quick dehydration). -A spray mister bottle to spray my dog. I was worried about heat exhaustion. So glad I brought him, though! He had the best beach day EVER. -Tent or shade structure. The sun and humidity was intense, even for November. I wouldn't ever go with a tent. -Blanket to sit on -Wet wipes for hands -Rolling beach cart if you're carrying gear. Would have been helpful. -Cooler, food, towels, sunglasses. Facilities & Environment: The property is very well maintained--clean bathrooms, multiple shower areas to rinse off sand, trash cans everywhere (please use them--everyone else seemed to be doing a great job keeping the beach clean, which I appreciated). Everything felt thoughtfully designed. Departure & Sunset Experience: After spending the day shelling, walking, and relaxing at Bowman's Beach, we drove all the way to the end of the island (about 15-20 minutes) to watch the sunset--and I HIGHLY recommend doing the same. The sunset looked just like California (I'm from the Pacific coast)--gold, peach, purple, pink, and soft cotton candy blues, all reflecting on the water. You can literally watch the sun melt straight into the ocean. It was breathtaking. Final Thoughts: Bowman's Beach is peaceful, beautiful, full of shells, wildlife, and space to breathe. It felt like a perfect blend of adventure and relaxation. Whether you're there for a day trip or a full vacation--go prepared, bring shade, water, sunscreen, and let the day work its magic. 110% worth the drive. DREAM SHELL TRIP!

Bowman's Beach is a beautiful beach on the tip of Sanibel Island that's left greatly untouched by…read morehuman hand. You'll also definitely get your steps in here as the parking lot of property ~.5 miles to the actual beachfront & water, disclosing walking around to stake out a spot. The biggest reason to come here is for the shelling, which can be fortuitous during the right time of year and even the right area on the shoreline. Honestly, were it not for the shelling it probably wouldn't be a beach I'd come back to. It's nice, of course, but doesn't have that gorgeous cerulean water and ultra soft sand that some of the gulf coast beaches are known for. It does have a lot of amenities on the walk between the parking lot & beach shore, such as bathrooms & changing rooms, rinse stations, a picnic area, educational signs, and even a playground. You also have to pay for parking- and the lot has quite a lot of parking, but if you don't get there early enough on the wrong weekend it could still be tough to find a spot.

Photos
Bowman's Beach - Beach line

Beach line

Bowman's Beach - Looking for dinner

Looking for dinner

Bowman's Beach

See all

Captiva Beach

Captiva Beach

4.1(20 reviews)
10.5 mi

About a half hour drive on the causeway from Ft Myers to this remote but lovely beach. Enjoy the…read morescenic drive with blue-green gulf waters and lovely private homes hidden behind palm trees and lush tropical vegetation. Sea shells all over- so much fun! You see folks absorbed in finding one after the next pretty ones! But when you get to this paradise, be ready to pay a more for public beach parking. If you can find a spot! Not easy. Patience is a virtue! As of today, late August 2021, the price is $25/2 hours or $40/day. Nothing in between, like 1 hour or by the half hour. Pay by cash or credit card and display your receipt on the dashboard. I saw park services vehicle in the area. Don't get a ticket. There are no public restrooms, showers or food service. Prices are meant to keep out most ordinary citizens. Captiva is pricey, the playground for the wealthy for the most part. Private landowners enjoy private beach access. We enjoyed the shell-laden beach for two hours. It really is a beautiful stretch of beach. We drove back through Sanibel Island to the other area beaches, checking each one along the way. Most beaches on Sanibel offer parking at $5 /hour. Good for the common folk like us lol!

Beautiful beaches on Captiva near South Seas. You'll get an amazing sunset here for sure. Parking…read moreis a tad easier up here because of the shops and restaurants. They filmed parts of sweet home Alabama up here as well. Because it's beautiful.

Photos
Captiva Beach - It's kinda like paradise here

It's kinda like paradise here

Captiva Beach
Captiva Beach

See all

Gulfside City Park - beaches - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...