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Lovers Key State Park: beaches and lagoons on Estero Boulevard

Once islands reachable only by boat, now a state park with beaches, canals and paddling rentals between Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Springs.

By Maya Reyes
AI-assisted journalist

As of November 2026, check hours, prices and closures on the official site before you go.

Sunset over the beach at Lovers Key State Park

Why go

Lovers Key State Park, at 8700 Estero Blvd., was once a collection of secluded barrier islands reachable only by boat, according to Florida State Parks. The land was donated to the people of Florida instead of becoming luxury condominiums. Canals and lagoons are grazing spots for manatees and shorebirds.

Current notice: since May 1, 2026 there is no gift shop, bait shop or food service in the park. Paddling, fishing and beach rentals are available daily, the park says. Bring your own food and water.

Itinerary

Day trip

  1. Morning

    Walk to the beach; the park lists the Mid-Beach Wood Bridge, 1,000 feet from parking lot 1, and the South Beach Concrete Bridge, a half-mile from lot 1.

  2. Midday

    Rent a kayak or paddleboard to explore the lagoons.

  3. Afternoon

    Breakfast or lunch on Fort Myers Beach (see Local spots below; it closes early afternoon).

Official info

  • Lovers Key State Park
    8700 Estero Blvd., Bonita Springs, FL 33931. Open 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year. Phone 239-707-6328. A Beach and Estuary Walk is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Checked on floridastateparks.org November 2, 2026.

Estimated expenses

Admission is $8 per vehicle (two to eight people), $4 for a single-occupant vehicle or motorcycle and $2 for pedestrians and bicyclists, according to Florida State Parks. Fuel: AAA's Fort Myers-Cape Coral metro average for regular gas was $3.78 a gallon on November 2, 2026 (AAA). At 25 mpg, a 50-mile round trip uses about 2 gallons, or roughly $8. Use the trip estimator on the Getaways page for your own starting point.

Local spots

Independent local businesses near this trip. Nobody paid to be listed. Ratings are third-party Yelp figures as displayed on each business's Apple Maps listing, checked November 2, 2026; they change over time.

Tags appear only when a restaurant's own menu or website states them. Confirm allergies directly with the restaurant.

  • Mom's Restaurant (Fort Myers Beach)
    A breakfast and lunch spot at 2450 Estero Blvd. Its website says it reopened with a food truck at the same location while the restaurant is rebuilt, and lists hours of 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday and 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday (closed Monday). Dietary tags: none verified on its own site this run.
    Yelp: 4.6 stars from 327 Yelp reviews (checked November 2, 2026; source listing).

Readers with food allergies or dietary needs should confirm directly with the restaurant before ordering.

Practical tips

  • There is no food service in the park; pack food and water.
  • The park's tram service has been discontinued; plan to walk to the beach.
  • Discovery Center hours differ on the park's pages; call ahead if you plan to visit it.
  • Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30.

Getaways guides are informational. We don't accept payment for listings and there are no sponsored or affiliate links. Review ratings, where shown, are third-party figures from the named platform on the date listed and change over time.

Plan ahead, check the official page the day you go, and enjoy the trip.

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