Things to Do in Naples Florida: Beaches, Nature and Tips
The best things to do in Naples, Florida, are walking the Corkscrew Swamp boardwalk, touring the 170-acre Naples Botanical Garden, shelling on boat-only Keewaydin Island, and watching sunset from Lowdermilk Park or Clam Pass Park. The Naples Pier is closed for a rebuild, so this guide lists verified prices, parking rules, and open alternatives.
Naples, Florida is a Gulf Coast city in Collier County that serves as the base for Southwest Florida’s white-sand beaches, the Ten Thousand Islands, and the western Everglades. The city faces the Gulf of America (Gulf of Mexico), and every price and status in this guide was checked against official sources in October 2026.
Key Takeaways
- The Naples Pier is closed for a full rebuild that began in January 2026, and the City of Naples targets a mid-2027 reopening.
- Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary charges $17 for adults and $6 for children ages 6 to 14 to walk its 2.25-mile (3.6-kilometer) boardwalk.
- Visitors without a Collier County permit pay $5 per hour at City of Naples beach meters and $10 per day at Collier County beach parks.
- Florida stone crab season runs from October 15 through May 1, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
- Collier County sea turtle nesting season runs from May 1 to October 31, and beach furniture must be off the sand by 9:30 p.m.
- Naples averages a 75°F (24°C) high in January and a 91°F (33°C) high in August, based on NOAA climate normals for 1991 to 2020.
What are the best things to do in Naples, Florida?
The 10 best things to do in Naples, Florida, are Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Naples Botanical Garden, a Keewaydin Island shelling cruise, Clam Pass Park, Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, Naples Zoo, Lowdermilk Park, Fifth Avenue South, the Gordon River Greenway, and an Everglades City day trip. These 10 Naples picks are ranked by value, variety, and year-round access.
The table lists the cost, the time to plan, and the best audience for each pick. Prices were verified in October 2026.
| # | Attraction | Cost | Time to plan | Best for |
| 1 | Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary | $17 adults, $6 ages 6 to 14 | 2 to 3 hours | Wildlife and birding |
| 2 | Naples Botanical Garden | $27 adults, $12 ages 4 to 17 | 2 to 3 hours | Garden lovers, photographers |
| 3 | Keewaydin Island shelling cruise | From $52 per person | 3 hours | Shellers, dolphin watchers |
| 4 | Clam Pass Park | Free entry, $10 daily parking | Half day | Families, nature walkers |
| 5 | Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park | $6 per vehicle | Half day | Snorkelers, shellers |
| 6 | Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens | Tickets at napleszoo.org | Half day | Families with kids |
| 7 | Lowdermilk Park | $5 per hour at meters | 2 to 4 hours | Young children |
| 8 | Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South | Free to stroll | Evening | Couples, shoppers |
| 9 | Gordon River Greenway | Free | 1 to 2 hours | Walkers, cyclists |
| 10 | Everglades City day trip | Free visitor center, tours extra | Full day | Wildlife, history |
These 10 picks are the top things to do in Naples Florida for a first visit. Repeat visitors get more from the unique picks, the day trips, and the season guide.
Is the Naples Pier open?
No. The Naples Pier is closed for a full reconstruction that began in January 2026, and the City of Naples targets a mid-2027 reopening. The Naples Pier, its stairs, its restrooms, and its showers stay closed during construction. The beach at the foot of 12th Avenue South stays open for swimming and sunset.
The Naples Pier first opened in 1888 and stretches 1,000 feet (305 meters) into the Gulf. Hurricane Ian destroyed about 460 feet (140 meters) of the pier in 2022, including the fishing platform at the end. Crews rebuilt the pier after earlier storms in 1910, 1926, 1944, and 1960.
The best Naples sunset spots during the rebuild are these 5 places:
- The 12th Avenue South beach, which sits beside the construction zone and keeps the classic downtown view.
- Lowdermilk Park, the family beach park at 1301 Gulf Shore Boulevard North.
- Clam Pass Park, where the boardwalk ends on a quiet stretch of sand.
- Vanderbilt Beach, the North Naples beach beside the resort hotels.
- A Sweet Liberty sunset sail, a 2-hour catamaran cruise from the Naples City Dock through Gordon Pass.
What are the best beaches in Naples, FL?
The best beaches in Naples, FL, are Lowdermilk Park for families, Clam Pass Park for a mangrove boardwalk, Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park for snorkeling, Vanderbilt Beach for sunsets, and Barefoot Beach Preserve for undeveloped dunes. Each of these 5 Naples beaches has soft white sand and calm, shallow Gulf water.
| Beach | Best for | Visitor parking | Standout feature |
| Lowdermilk Park | Families with young kids | City meters, $5 per hour | 2 playgrounds, volleyball courts, a concession stand, beach wheelchairs |
| Clam Pass Park | Nature walkers | County lot, $10 per day | A 0.75-mile (1.2-kilometer) mangrove boardwalk with a free tram |
| Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park | Snorkelers, shellers | $6 per vehicle, up to 8 people | A hard-bottom reef 8 to 10 feet (2.4 to 3 meters) deep near parking areas 1 and 2 |
| Vanderbilt Beach | Sunsets, resort dining | County, $10 per day | A parking garage and calm swimming water |
| Barefoot Beach Preserve | Quiet, wildlife | County, $10 per day | A 342-acre (138-hectare) undeveloped preserve with loggerhead turtle nesting |
| 12th Avenue South beach | Downtown sunset | City meters, $5 per hour | Open beach access while the Naples Pier is rebuilt |
Lowdermilk Park is the best Naples beach for small children. Lowdermilk Park has playgrounds, restrooms, showers, and loaner beach wheelchairs, so families carry less gear. For another Gulf Coast beach town, see the best things to do in Biloxi MS.
Where do visitors park for Naples beaches?
Visitors park at metered City of Naples beach ends for $5 per hour or at Collier County beach parks for a flat $10 per day. Visitors cannot buy a resident permit, and 24 city beach ends are reserved for permit holders only. No car may stay in a metered beach space between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
One $10 county payment covers every Collier County beach lot for the rest of that day, so a morning at Vanderbilt Beach and a sunset at Clam Pass cost $10 in total. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park charges its own $6 fee and closes to new cars when the lot fills. A county beach trolley runs from the Conner Park lot on Bluebill Avenue to the Delnor-Wiggins entrance on busy days.
Top nature experiences in Naples
The top nature experiences in Naples are the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary boardwalk, the Naples Botanical Garden, the free Gordon River Greenway, and a boat trip to Keewaydin Island. All 4 Naples nature experiences start within a 30-minute drive of downtown and suit visitors with no hiking or boating experience.
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary protects the largest remaining old-growth bald cypress forest in North America, with trees close to 600 years old. The National Audubon Society manages the 13,000-acre (5,261-hectare) sanctuary at 375 Sanctuary Road West, about 30 minutes northeast of Naples.
- Boardwalk: 2.25 miles (3.6 kilometers) through pine flatwoods, wet prairie, and cypress forest, with a 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) shortcut.
- Admission: $17 for adults, $6 for children ages 6 to 14, and free for children under 6.
- Hours: open daily at 8 a.m., with last admission at 3 p.m.
- New in 2026: the Spurlino Foundation Discovery Center opened on February 4, 2026, with hands-on swamp exhibits.
Corkscrew works in summer because the boardwalk is mostly shaded and mosquito fish keep the bugs down. The rare ghost orchid blooms in the swamp most summers, with August as the peak month.
Naples Botanical Garden
Naples Botanical Garden covers 170 acres (69 hectares) at 4820 Bayshore Drive and is one of the few tropical botanical gardens in the United States. Themed areas include the Brazilian Garden, the Asian Garden, the Florida Garden, and the Caribbean Garden.
The garden opens daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $27 for adults, $12 for children ages 4 to 17, and free for children 3 and under. Arrive at opening and start with coffee at the on-site Fogg Café to see the waterlily pools before the crowds.
Gordon River Greenway
The Gordon River Greenway is a free 2-mile (3.2-kilometer) boardwalk and trail through wetlands in the middle of Naples. The greenway opened in fall 2014 and has wildlife viewing stations, benches, restrooms, and a kayak launch. Park at 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road, the lot shared with Naples Zoo and the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.
Keewaydin Island shelling cruise
Keewaydin Island is an undeveloped barrier island between Naples and Marco Island with no cars, roads, or bridges. Keewaydin Island is reachable only by boat, and guided shelling cruises are the easiest way to go.
Sweet Liberty, a 53-foot (16-meter) sailing catamaran, runs a 3-hour shelling cruise from the Naples City Dock daily at 9:30 a.m. Visit Naples lists Keewaydin shelling trips from $52 per person with Miss Naples and from $125 per person with Sand Dollar Boat Tours. Pure Florida does not recommend its Keewaydin cruise for guests who use a wheelchair, because guests step off the boat onto uneven sand.
What is there to do in Naples with kids?
Naples with kids centers on 4 places: Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, the indoor water park at Great Wolf Lodge, and the playgrounds at Lowdermilk Park. The zoo and the beach suit sunny days, and the children’s museum and the water park suit rainy days in Naples.
- Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens began as a botanical garden in 1919 and offers a 20-minute primate boat cruise and giraffe feeding. The zoo opens from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with last entry at 3:30 p.m. Arrive at opening to feed the giraffes with no line.
- The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples serves children from infancy through age 12 across 30,000 square feet (2,787 square meters) at 15080 Livingston Road. A toddler zone serves ages 0 to 3.
- Great Wolf Lodge Naples opened in 2024 with a 91,000-square-foot (8,454-square-meter) indoor water park, a ropes course, and an arcade. Day passes are available without a hotel stay.
- Lowdermilk Park adds 2 playgrounds and a snack stand to a calm family beach.
Fun things to do in Naples Florida after dark
The most fun things to do in Naples after dark are a Naples Bay sunset cruise, dinner on Fifth Avenue South or Third Street South, live music at The Cove at Paradise Coast Sports Complex, and a concert or exhibit at Artis Naples. Book dinner tables ahead from October through April, because winter is the busiest Naples season.
- Naples Princess runs lunch, sightseeing, and sunset dinner cruises through Naples Bay and past the waterfront homes of Port Royal.
- Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South hold the downtown cluster of restaurants, galleries, and boutiques in Old Naples.
- Tin City turns a 1920s clam-shelling and oyster-processing plant into waterfront shops and seafood restaurants on the Gordon River.
- The Cove at Paradise Coast Sports Complex adds lakefront fire pits, live music, and food trucks in East Naples.
- Artis Naples houses The Baker Museum and Hayes Hall, the 1,477-seat home of the Naples Philharmonic.
Stone crab season opens the best dining window of the year. The FWC sets the season from October 15 through May 1, and the Paradise Coast tourism bureau calls Everglades City the Stone Crab Capital of the World.
What are the best free things to do in Naples?
The best free things to do in Naples are walking the Gordon River Greenway, strolling Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South, browsing Tin City, and swimming at any Naples beach. Entry to every Naples public beach is free, and visitors pay only for parking at $5 per hour in the city or $10 per day at county parks.
| Free activity | Cost to enter | What costs money |
| Gordon River Greenway | $0 | Nothing, and the kayak launch is free to use |
| Clam Pass Park and boardwalk tram | $0 | Parking at $10 per day |
| Lowdermilk Park | $0 | Parking at $5 per hour |
| Tin City | $0 | Shopping, dining, and boat tours |
| Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South | $0 | Dining and gallery purchases |
| Museum of the Everglades in Everglades City | $0 | Gas for the 35-mile (56-kilometer) drive |
Unique things to do in Naples Florida
The most unique things to do in Naples, Florida, are floating the tide at Clam Pass, snorkeling the reef at Delnor-Wiggins Pass, touring Historic Palm Cottage, and seeing more than 100 rare cars at the Revs Institute. These 4 picks show a side of Naples that standard beach-and-shopping lists skip.
Float the tide at Clam Pass
The pass at Clam Pass Park is a narrow, shallow channel through the mangroves, and an adult can stand in the center except at the highest tide. Step into the channel and the current carries you. An incoming tide floats you into a mangrove lagoon, and an outgoing tide floats you toward the Gulf.
Snorkel the Delnor-Wiggins reef
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is a rare Gulf Coast beach with snorkeling over a hard-bottom reef. The reef runs parallel to the beach in 8 to 10 feet (2.4 to 3 meters) of water near parking areas 1 and 2. The park opens from 8 a.m. to sundown every day of the year.
Tour Historic Palm Cottage
Historic Palm Cottage, built in 1895, is the oldest house in Naples. Builders used tabby mortar, a mix of lime and crushed shell, and the Naples Historical Society runs guided tours of the cottage and the native plants of the Norris Gardens next door.
See the cars at the Revs Institute
The Revs Institute is an automotive museum and research center with more than 100 historically important vehicles. The collection includes race cars and prototypes from Ferrari, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and Bugatti, and the museum makes a strong rainy-day pick for adults.
Can you take a day trip to the Everglades from Naples?
Yes. Everglades City, the Gulf Coast gateway to Everglades National Park, sits about 35 miles (56 kilometers) south of Naples, about a 1-hour drive. The National Park Service (NPS) opened the new Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center in Everglades City in 2026, and boat tours from the center run into the Ten Thousand Islands.
The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center opens daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 815 Oyster Bar Lane. The center does not sell park entrance passes, so buy a pass online before the drive. The NPS describes the Gulf Coast area of Everglades National Park as reachable only by boat.
| Day trip from Naples | Distance | Highlight |
| Marco Island | 15 miles (24 kilometers) south | Beaches, Tigertail Beach birding, and Ten Thousand Islands eco-tours |
| Collier-Seminole State Park | 17 miles (27 kilometers) south | The 1924 Bay City Walking Dredge, a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark |
| Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park | 25 miles (40 kilometers) southeast | The Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk and miles of old logging roads |
| Everglades City | 35 miles (56 kilometers) south | The new NPS visitor center, boat tours, and the free Museum of the Everglades |
| Chokoloskee | Past Everglades City at the end of State Road 29 | The Historic Smallwood Store, a 1906 trading post turned museum, $5 admission |
| Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery | 47 miles (76 kilometers) east | Large black-and-white photographs inside Big Cypress National Preserve, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
Plan Everglades-area hikes and paddles for the dry season. Mosquitoes are fierce at Collier-Seminole State Park from May to October.
When is the best time to visit Naples, Florida?
The best time to visit Naples, Florida, is December through April, when average highs run 75°F to 84°F (24°C to 29°C) and rainfall stays under 3 inches (76 millimeters) a month. Summer highs reach 90°F to 91°F (32°C to 33°C), and summer is the season for shaded Corkscrew walks and the warmest Gulf water.
| Season | Months | Average high | Best for | Plan around |
| Peak season | December to April | 75°F to 84°F (24°C to 29°C) | Beaches, Everglades boat tours, stone crab dinners | Full beach lots and booked restaurants |
| Shoulder season | May, October, November | 81°F to 88°F (27°C to 31°C) | Stone crab season opening October 15, quieter beaches | Sea turtle rules through October 31 |
| Summer | June to September | 90°F to 91°F (32°C to 33°C) | Corkscrew in the shade, ghost orchid season, Gulf water near 86°F (30°C) in August | 7.4 to 8.9 inches (188 to 226 millimeters) of rain a month, mosquitoes, and hurricane season |
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Collier County sea turtle rules apply from May 1 to October 31: keep lights off the beach, leave nests alone, and remove beach chairs by 9:30 p.m. Hilton Head follows similar rules, covered in our guide to things to do in Hilton Head.
How many days do you need in Naples?
Three days in Naples covers the essentials: 1 day for beaches and Old Naples, 1 day for Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and the Naples Botanical Garden, and 1 day for a Keewaydin Island cruise. Add a fourth day for an Everglades City trip, Naples Zoo with kids, or Marco Island. Driving in? Our travel cost calculator estimates gas and lodging for the trip.
Day 1: Beaches and Old Naples
- Swim at Lowdermilk Park in the morning.
- Walk Third Street South and Fifth Avenue South at lunch.
- Watch the sunset from the 12th Avenue South beach.
Day 2: Swamp and garden
- Arrive at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary for the 8 a.m. opening.
- Tour the Naples Botanical Garden in the afternoon.
- Order stone crab at dinner between October 15 and May 1.
Day 3: Island and pass
- Board the 9:30 a.m. Sweet Liberty shelling cruise to Keewaydin Island.
- Float the tide at Clam Pass Park in the afternoon.
- Browse Tin City on the Gordon River at dusk.
Conclusion
Naples is entering its best stretch of the year: stone crab season opened on October 15, 2026, sea turtle season ends on October 31, and dry-season weather arrives in December. Book Keewaydin cruises and garden visits now for peak months, and expect a new, taller Naples Pier when the City of Naples completes the rebuild, targeted for mid-2027.
