Hi there!
Marco Island is known as one of the best beach destinations in Florida, and it has some of the best beaches for shelling in Florida!
Shelling is one of the best things to do on Marco Island.
This means that yes, Marco Island is good for shells!
You can make your time on Marco Island all about shelling.
You can find so many seashells on the shores of Marco Island.
You might even spot a baby starfish!
You can go to any beach on Marco Island and start looking for shells along the shore!
The Marco Island shoreline is just really one long beach.
So the Marco Island beaches are connected.
You could start at either end of the beach and make it one long beach walk on Marco Island!
I went to Marco Island and found lots of shells on the beach, and here’s what you need to know!
These are the Marco Island beaches I went to and had fun looking for shells!
As long as you get to the shoreline on Marco Island, all you need to do is start walking!
But, to get you acquainted with Marco Island, there are 3 public access spots near parking lots that you can go to find a Marco Island shelling beach!
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1. Tigertail Beach
Tigertail Beach is often considered to be the best shelling on Marco Island.
But really, you can go to any beach and have the possibility of having good shelling!
Tigertail Beach is one of the 2 main Marco Island beaches.
You will likely find it easier to find Marco Island beach parking at Tigertail Beach compared to the other main Marco Island beach. (Next on the list.)
Tigertail Beach is also known as the Marco Island beach that you walk through (yes, through!) a lagoon to get to.
You may be walking through waist high water, and you’ll need to make sure you can carry all your beach gear with you.
If you do the lagoon crossing to get to Tigertail Beach, once you reach the gulf coast, you will basically be at the end of the beach that can be best for shelling.
You can also get to Tigertail Beach without a water crossing required.
Some people might consider it to be a long walk to get to Tigertail Beach the “normal” way.
Having been to many beaches in Florida, it really isn’t any longer of a walk (or not too much longer of a walk) than a popular Florida beach in which you have to park far away because the parking lot is full.
So I didn’t find the walk to Tigertail Beach to be that bad.
Maybe you will walk around 10 to 15 minutes from your car in the parking lot to the spot that you set up camp on Tigertail Beach.
There is a lot of walking through sand which means it’s more effort. (Walking through water in the lagoon is also more effort than simply walking!)
You’ll want to think about that as you consider what beach gear you want to bring and how you want to bring it.
Many people roll beach wagons through the sand with their beach gear.
Once you reach the shoreline after taking the Tigertail Beach public access, you can start your Marco Island shelling walk in either direction.
As you’re facing the water, to the left is to the south where you can walk to the other beaches.
To the right is where the lagoon beach goers will arrive on Tigertail Beach, and also where you’ll find more shells along with some dead beach trees on Marco Island.
So, head to the RIGHT when you arrive at the shore! You will be walking to the north side of Marco Island.
That is the direction I walked to find lots of shells on Marco Island at Tigertail Beach!
🐠 Side note! If you're doing any type of swimming, like at the beach, for snorkeling, or at some springs, here are things you must consider packing for Florida!
You can find these things on Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate.
- Swimsuit or swimming shirt aka rash guard
- rash guard: swim set for women and swim shirt for men
- Water shoes
- Waterproof phone case (so you can capture pictures underwater!)
- cheapo phone case OR waterproof camera
- I also have this "camera" wrist float to attach to my cheapo waterproof phone case so my phone won't sink to the bottom of the ocean in case I somehow let go of it. (Mine does stay afloat - test this for yourself before completely trusting it!)
- Swimming goggles or snorkeling mask set
- Reef-safe(r) sunscreen
- lightweight travel towel
I also like to go swimming with a personal swim float buoy. Not only does it help to keep me visible, but it makes for a perfect way to rest out in deeper water! Oh, and it also serves as a dry bag so I can take stuff into the water with me.
Another way I have taken valuables into the water with me is to wear a travel money belt that I don't mind getting wet with salt water (it's not waterproof but I have several so I just use one of them) and then I put things in a ziplock freezer bag, and put that freezer bag in the money belt.
There are also designated waterproof waist pouches that you can store your valuables and take into the water with you.
How to save money on your trip
I tend to use booking.com or hotels.com to look for the cheapest hotels. You can also try the expedia hotels site (good for car rentals too) or see if you like any of the vrbo vacation rentals.
Search for the cheapest car rentals at the airport.
/end side note
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See more about how to get to Tigertail Beach.
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2. South Beach
South Beach is one of the 2 main Marco Island beaches.
You might have difficulty finding Marco Island beach parking availability at the South Beach parking lot.
On google maps, you’ll want to specifically look for the South Beach parking lot, which is a few minutes walk down the side road from the South Beach access that is along the main road.
South Beach is at the south end of Marco Island. (Yes!)
Once you reach the shoreline after taking the South Marco Beach public access, you can start your Marco Island shelling walk in either direction.
As you’re facing the water, to the right is to the north where you can walk to the other beaches.
To the left will take you to the end of the island!
That is the direction I walked to find lots of shells on Marco Island at South Beach!
I also met someone who found a baby starfish around here. (Remember to only LOOK if you find something that’s alive!)
So you might want to have a look in the shallow water too to see if you can find something. (This can be at any Marco Island beach, not just South Beach!)
This can also be a reason to bring snorkeling gear when you go shelling! (You might find Marco Island water temperature in the winter to be cold though! January is the coldest it gets, and the water temperature might be in the high 60s… still reasonable to go swimming for some people but maybe not all!)
See more about how to get to South Beach.
3. Winterberry Beach
Winterberry Beach is the lesser known public beach access since there is no “public” parking lot that the City of Marco Island or Collier County manages near the Winterberry beach access.
But there is a private parking lot called Turtle Lot that is open to the general public near this Marco Island shelling beach!
The parking lot is located a few minutes walk away from the public beach access.
Once you reach the shoreline after taking the Winterberry Beach public access, you can start your Marco Island shelling walk in either direction.
You will be in the “middle” of the Marco Island beach shoreline, with South Beach to your south and Tigertail Beach to your north!
I mostly stayed around the part of the beach I arrived at, and I saw a bunch of shells as I was waiting for the sunset!
See more about how to get to Winterberry Beach.
Marco Island map
👆 Map of where Marco Island is located in Florida. Along with Sanibel Island, Marco Island has some of the best shelling beaches in Florida! Explore more things to do in Southwest Florida!
Marco Island shell identification guide
The types of shells you can find while shelling in Florida on Marco Island beaches include the worm shell, calico shell, lightning whelk, moon snail, olive shell, fighting conch, sand dollar, starfish, and horse conch.
According to Collier County, collection or injury to live shells, starfish, and sand dollars is not allowed on Marco Island.
Cost to go shelling on Marco Island
While there is no beach entry fee of sorts for Marco Island beaches, there are beach parking fees.
There is no free public beach parking on Marco Island.
So your cost to go shelling on Marco Island is the beach parking fee.
You can expect to pay $10 for the day for parking at Marco Island beaches managed by the City of Marco Island or Collier County.
More for your Marco Island beach road trip and beyond:
- What to pack for shelling in Florida
- Best shelling in Florida
- Best Sanibel Island shelling
- Best beaches in Southwest Florida
- Things to do in Southwest Florida
- Best state parks in Southwest Florida
HAPPY MARCO ISLAND SHELLING TRIP!
Here's some info on Florida trip prep!
- Things to do in Southwest Florida
- Best shelling in Florida
- Tampa to Miami drive
- Things to do in Everglades National Park
Southwest Florida is where Hurricane Ian made landfall in September 2022 which resulted in historic destruction.
Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island were among the hardest hit by the hurricane.
The Sanibel Island bridge that links mainland Florida to Sanibel Island and Captiva Island was destroyed during the hurricane.
This has since been repaired, but Sanibel Island beaches were still closed to the public for months... until recently!
Read current info from the City of Sanibel: Sanibel Island beaches that are open
What the open Sanibel Island beaches on that list were like pre-hurricane:
- Bowmans Beach
- Blind Pass Beach
- Tarpon Bay Road Beach (Trost parking lot)
- In general: Sanibel Island shelling beaches