Tigertail Beach, Marco Island: A complete visitor’s guide

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Pacaso’s Editorial Team
October 30, 2025
Marco Island beach
Key takeaways
This guide covers everything you need to know about visiting Tigertail Beach, Marco Island, Florida for your next getaway, including common questions like:
Marco Island is a barrier island on Florida’s southwest coast, known for its laid-back lifestyle and natural beauty. And few places capture that beauty more than Tigertail Beach, a must-see for every visit to Marco Island. 

What is unique about Tigertail Beach? 

Given all of Marco Island’s high-rises and resort developments, you might not expect it to be home to one of the most ruggedly beautiful beaches in the Everglades region. Yet the white sands of Tigertail Beach Park offer just that. One of just two public beaches on Marco Island, Tigertail Beach is actually a new beach. Tigertail Beach was an offshore sandbar until Hurricane Wilma hit the Paradise Coast in 2005 and sand piled up, connecting the beach to the mainland. 

The inner beach vs. the outer beach: what’s the difference?

The inner beach

Tigertail is really two beaches in one, known by locals as the inner and outer beach. The inner beach is the most easily accessible, with multiple boardwalks connecting the Tigertail Beach parking lot with the sand. It’s a great family-friendly beach, with a beach cafe serving food and cold drinks, a playground, picnic area, watersports rentals and restrooms. There’s even a bird-watching tower that offers amazing views of the wildlife. The inner beach is a nice place to spend a day and a good launch point for exploring the surrounding mangroves by kayak. 

The outer beach

Tigertail’s outer beach, sometimes called Sand Dollar Beach, is accessible by wading across the saltwater lagoon. This is best done at low tide if you’re carrying a lot of gear or have young children with you, but it can also be done at high tide, when the depth is a few feet. The best place to cross is marked by a floating buoy about 50 yards offshore. The lagoon bottom is a bit mucky and grassy, so you might want to rent a paddleboard or kayak to make the crossing if you don’t want to feel the “squish” between your toes.  Exercise caution when walking to the north end of the beach at low tide — you could end up surrounded by water when the tide comes back in. Once you’ve made the crossing, your belongings held above your head, you’ll be rewarded with three miles of pristine, secluded coastal beauty. The outer beach boasts soft white sand, beautiful shells in a rainbow of colors, fiddler crabs scurrying around and pods of dolphins frolicking offshore. 

What are Tigertail Beach tides like?

The Tigertail beach tides constantly reshape the shoreline, creating sandbars, shallow pools, and shifting channels that make the landscape feel different from hour to hour. For the safest and most enjoyable experience, try to plan around these shifts: low tide is ideal for shelling and sandbar walks, while high tide is better suited to swimming and paddling.

What are the top things to do at Tigertail Beach?

If you’re wondering what to do at Tigertail Beach, you’ll be glad to know there’s no shortage of options. This stretch of Marco Island is one of those spots where you can be as relaxed, or as active, as you want.
  • Fishing: Bring a rod and try your luck right from the shore or wade into the shallows. These waters are known for snook, tarpon, and redfish.
  • Camping: You can’t camp right on the beach, but nearby campgrounds make it easy to turn a day trip into a weekend without being far from the sand.
  • Kayaking: The calm lagoon behind the beach is perfect for an easy paddle, and if you’re feeling adventurous, you can work your way into the mangroves for a closer look at wildlife.
  • Snorkeling: On calmer days, you can snorkel right off the beach and spot small fish, seagrass beds, and shells — no boat or tour needed.
  • Swimming: Warm Gulf water and gradual entry points make it a great place to swim, especially at high tide when the water is deeper and calmer.
  • Birdwatching: Tigertail Beach is a popular destination for birdwatchers, as the island is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail. Sit back and look up — you’ll see a wide variety of shore birds, including eagles, osprey, terns and plovers.  
  • Shelling: Before you leave, see if you can find the seashell tree. Visitors who made the trek to the beach often leave messages they’ve written on shells and hung from the branches. 

How do you get to Tigertail Beach?

Marco Island is easily accessible from Naples, Florida, via two bridges. Once you have arrived on the island, you can find Tigertail Beach at the end of Hernando Drive. 

Tigertail Beach map

Tigertail Beach

Tigertail Beach parking

There’s a conveniently located parking lot with over 200 spots for beach lovers. Expect to pay $10 to park for the day if you don’t have a Collier County Resident Beach Parking Permit.

Tigertail Beach hours

The beach is open from 8 a.m. to sunset, year-round. 

What are some vacation homes for sale near Tigertail Beach, Marco Island?

Windmill Palms: Just a quick drive from Tigertail Beach, this newly built coastal home makes the perfect launch pad for exploring Marco Island.
Sophisticated living room with coffered ceiling, dark wood floors, and a sweeping water view in a Marco Island luxury residence, capturing the elegance and tranquility of coastal living.

Why should I own a second home near Tigertail Beach?

Tigertail Beach is just one of many unspoiled stretches of coastline on the Paradise Coast. When you co-own a second home with Pacaso, you’re not just visiting for a weekend — you have a home base that lets you experience Marco Island and the Everglades at your own pace. With Pacaso co-ownership, you get:
  • True real estate ownership — not a timeshare, but equity in a luxury home
  • Turnkey ease — homes are designer-furnished, professionally managed and always stay-ready
  • Flexible stays — SmartStay™ lets you book your stays in real time
  • Premier destinations — enjoy exceptional second homes in Florida and beyond
  • Swap opportunities — exchange stays with other Pacaso homes across the global portfolio
  • Consistent quality — every home meets Pacaso’s high design and hospitality standards
Browse Florida listings and see what co-ownership could look like for you.

Tigertail Beach FAQ

01: Where is Tigertail Beach located?

Tigertail Beach is located on Marco Island, a barrier island on Florida’s southwest coast, less than 25 miles south of Naples, Florida.

02: What is Tigertail Beach known for?

Tigertail Beach is known for its laid-back lifestyle and rugged beauty, that’s ideal for a peaceful and secluded getaway. It’s one of only two public beaches on Marco Island and offers beautiful white sand, a pristine coastline, and an abundant variety of colorful seashells, making it one of the best shelling beaches in Florida.

03: Is Tigertail Beach dog friendly?

While the beach is family friendly, no dogs are permitted in the park.

04: Can you swim at Tigertail Beach?

Yes, especially at the inner beach, which offers calm, shallow waters and a sandy bottom, perfect for families.

05: What are some restaurants near Tigertail Beach?

There are several restaurant options near Tigertail Beach, ranging from casual eateries like Doreen’s Cup of Joe, Hoot’s, and Sami’s, to high-end establishments like Verdi’s American Bistro, Ciao Bella Ristorante Italiano, and Arturo’s Bistro.

06: Is Tigertail Beach public?

Yes, Tigertail Beach is one of only two public beaches on Marco Island.

07: What is there to do at Tigertail Beach?

Tigertail Beach offers a variety of water activities, such as swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking, along with other outdoor activities like fishing, camping, and birdwatching. By far, the most popular activity is shelling at Tigertail beach where you can find rare, colorful shells like sand dollars, urchins, and conchs.

08: How is Tigertail Beach’s water quality?

The water quality at Tigertail Beach is safe based on the latest water quality tests, according to the Department of Health in Collier County. Water quality tests are performed routinely at public beaches to ensure public safety from any bacteria that could cause illness.

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