New pay-by-plate parking system at select Lee County beaches

Lee County launched a new parking payment system on Oct. 2, 2023 at select beach locations in Bonita Springs, Fort Myers Beach, and Fort Myers.

Text2Park is a cashless pay-by-plate system using your mobile device. Beach visitors will no longer need to visit a kiosk or display a parking receipt on the dashboard of their vehicle. Directions will be displayed on each parking space sign at the select beach locations.

Parking is $2 per hour, with the ability to add additional time.

Lee County parks staff will be available throughout the rollout of this system to assist guests and a video explaining the new pay-by-plate process will be available at www.leeparks. org/beaches.

Lee County beaches with pay-by-plate parking system:

Bonita Beach Park, 27954 Hickory Blvd., Bonita Springs.

Bonita Beach Access #1, 27890 Hickory Blvd., Bonita Springs.

Bonita Beach Access #10, 26082 Hickory Blvd., Bonita Springs

Bowditch Point Park, 50 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach.

Lynn Hall Memorial Beach Park, 950 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach.

San Carlos Bay-Bunche Beach Preserve, 18201 John Morris Road, Fort Myers.

Captiva & Sanibel Island Beaches

Rich with wildlife and first-class amenities, Captiva and Sanibel are considered two of the most captivating barrier islands in the country. They have also earned a reputation for some of the best shelling in the world. The Southwest Florida water currents play into a sheller’s hands, washing up more shells along the coastline than in any other place in North America—more than 400 species! Sanibel and Captiva Island are perfect places to start any beach vacation. 

Sanibel Stoop

Visitors and locals alike can be found all over the area doing the “Sanibel Stoop” while scouting for shells on Sanibel Island beaches. Small treasures can be found along the high tide line, but knowing where to look is the secret to successful shelling.

The large shells will be obvious and easy to see, but for the small, intricately colored, and sculpted shells, you’ll have to peer inside sponges and pieces of wood, overturn washed-up coconuts, and shore debris. Expect to encounter varieties of conch, scallop, whelk and shark eye.

Some shells appear seasonally, while others appear indiscriminately or remain in a specific area. Find them where they lived—on mudflats and sandbars, within grasses or mangroves, or even inside other shells.

One important caution: Make sure the shells you collect are not live (inhabited). Aside from the surprise you’ll get back home, it’s illegal to remove living shells from the beaches. This includes sand dollars, starfish and sea urchins.

Beach Access on Fort Myers Beach

Fort Myers Beach (which is actually located on Estero Island) is ideal for a family outing. The seven-mile stretch of beach has a wide shoreline that eases into the Gulf. With gentle undertow and no steep drop-offs, the palm-shaded sand and family-friendly reputation nabbed it the title “World’s Safest Beach.”

The town of Fort Myers Beach maintains 29 public beach access points, many of which offer parking and are ADA accessible by mobi mat or ramp.

Numbered signs on Estero Blvd. identify each access noting parking and accessibility information.

Motorized vehicles are not allowed on the beach or dunes.

Dogs on the beach must always be on a leash and under the owner’s control.

 Read our Sea Turtles of the Paradise Coast blog article here.

Whether you’re looking for an active day of water sports or just unwinding in a picturesque hideaway, the beaches of Fort Myers, Florida, have it all.

See more things to do in Fort Myers, Sanibel Island, and Captiva Island and check out Sarasota and Naples.