Research as of October 23, 2026. Every figure is tied to a numbered source below.

Palm trees and white sand along the beach at Lovers Key
Beach at Lovers Key, 2016 (before Hurricane Ian).
Photo: “Lovers key beach – panoramio.jpg” by ihatejohnnylake, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Resized.

Overview

Lovers Key State Park protects a group of barrier islands between Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Beach. According to Florida State Parks, the land was once headed for luxury condominiums and was instead donated to the people of Florida so its beaches and mangrove forests could be preserved.¹ The park has more than two miles of beach plus canals and lagoons where manatees, dolphins, ospreys and shorebirds are often seen.¹

Getting there from San Carlos Park

  • Address: 8700 Estero Blvd., Bonita Springs, FL 33931.¹ (State Parks event listings use “Ft. Myers Beach.”)
  • Driving distance: about 18.3 miles, roughly 33 minutes. That’s the OSRM public router’s no-traffic estimate to the park centroid, run 2026-10-23. The route usually goes through Fort Myers Beach or around through Bonita Beach Road.
  • Straight-line: 6.3 miles. It’s the closest beach park to 33967 as the crow flies, but water and bridges make the drive much longer.
Long white-sand shoreline curving along the Gulf at Lovers Key
North end of Lovers Key State Park beach, 2011.
Photo: “Fort Myers Beach FL Lovers Key SP north01.jpg” by Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Resized.

Fees and hours

Item Detail
Hours 8 a.m. to sunset, 365 days a year¹
Entry fee $8 per vehicle¹ (the full fee schedule is on the park’s fees page)
Phone 239-707-6328¹

Important changes (as of 2026)

  • No tram. Florida State Parks says tram service has been discontinued as part of long-term resilience planning.¹
  • Beach access is now on foot or by bike through two entry points:¹
  • Mid-Beach Wood Bridge: about 1,000 ft from parking lot #1 to the beach.

  • South Beach Concrete Bridge: about ½ mile from parking lot #1 to the beach.

  • No food, gift shop or bait shop. Since May 1, 2026 there’s been no gift shop, bait shop or food and beverage service. Paddling rentals, fishing equipment and beach rentals are still available daily.¹ Bring water and snacks.

Amenities

The park lists:¹ accessible amenities, beach, boat ramp, canoe/kayak launch, parking, recycling and restrooms. (A “concession and restaurant” icon still appears on the page, but the May 2026 notice above says food service isn’t available. Treat it as closed.)

Things to do

  • Paddle the back-bay canals and lagoons. Kayak launch on site, with rentals available daily.¹
  • Black Island Trail: a view into secluded estuaries full of wildlife.¹
  • Eagle Trail: maritime hammock with cabbage palms, strangler figs, gumbo limbos and seagrapes.¹
  • Shelling, swimming and geo-seeking are listed park experiences.¹
  • Ranger programs: the park calendar showed ranger-led beach and estuary walks (Oct. 23 and Nov. 7, 2026, 10–11:30 a.m.) and a fishing clinic (Nov. 11, 2026).¹
  • Weddings: the park is a popular spot for beach weddings.¹

Nearby

  • Fort Myers Beach (north on Estero Blvd): see our Fort Myers Beach guide. Several Lee County lots there are closed for 2026–27 construction.
  • Bonita Beach parks (south): Lee County closed several lots from Sept. 8, 2026 for restoration. Bonita Beach Access #1 stays open until November.²
  • LeeTran Beach Park & Ride (11101 Summerlin Square Dr) has free parking and trolley service on the beach route “all the way south to Lovers Key,” according to Lee County.²

Related Local Atlas listings

FAQs

How much does Lovers Key State Park cost? $8 per vehicle.¹

What are the hours? 8 a.m. to sunset, every day of the year.¹

Is the Lovers Key tram still running? No. It was discontinued. You can walk or bike to the beach over the Mid-Beach Wood Bridge (about 1,000 ft) or the South Beach Concrete Bridge (about ½ mile).¹

Is there food at Lovers Key? Not right now. Since May 1, 2026 there’s been no food and beverage service. Rentals are still available.¹

Can I launch a kayak? Yes. The park has a canoe/kayak launch and a boat ramp.¹

Can I take the trolley to Lovers Key? Lee County says LeeTran’s beach service from the free Beach Park & Ride runs south to Lovers Key.²

Map

Sources (accessed 2026-10-23)

  1. Florida State Parks, Lovers Key State Park: https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/lovers-key-state-park
  2. Lee County press release, Sept. 2, 2026: https://www.leegov.com/parks/News%20Documents/Lee%20County%20reminds%20beach-goers%20to%20plan%20ahead%20for%20parking%20after%20Labor%20Day.pdf
  3. Distance: OSRM public router, 2026-10-23