Tigertail Beach

Located in the town of Marco Island, Tigertail Beach is a three-miles-long, wide, and white sand beach that is considered among the most popular beaches on Marco Island. A small lagoon separates Tigertail Beach from Sand Dollar Island that is home to many birds including pelicans, bald eagles, falcons, osprey, least terns, red knots, and piping and snowy plovers.  Tigertail Beach is also a popular birdwatching destination and was listed as one of the best birding sites in Southwest Florida by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.

 Tigertail Beach offers many amenities including restrooms, five, boardwalks, a bathhouse, a picnic area, a volleyball court, a playground, a butterfly garden, a snack bar, and a small café named Nicky P’s Café. If you are looking for additional amenities, you can rent kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, chairs, umbrellas, and cabanas from a hut-shaped concession stand situated on the beach. 

There are many fun activities at Tigertail Beach including swimming, kayaking, sailing, birdwatching, and stand-up paddleboarding. Visitors can also watch dolphins swimming offshore and collect shells on the beach. Please note that Tigertail Beach remains open from 8 a.m. till sunset. 

Getting to Tigertail Beach is very easy – the beach’s paid parking lot is situated at 400 Hernando Drive and is a few yards from the beach. There is an $8 fee at the parking lot which has 210 parking spaces.

If you are looking for attractions near Tigertail Beach, you can drive 10 minutes to a couple of nearby attractions. Marco Island Historical Museum features exhibitions that provide information on the Calusa Indians and the history of development on Marco Island. Marco Island Center for the Arts is a fun tourist attraction that offers monthly art exhibits, classes, and workshops for children, adults, and families. Another great attraction near Tigertail Beach is The Island Country Club, a country club with a golf course, café, and tennis courts.

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants within a five-minute drive of Tigertail Beach. Italian Deli and Market is a waterside restaurant with a nice menu that includes portobello mushroom dishes, pasta, gnocchi, and desserts. The American restaurant CJ’s on the Bay serves starters, salads, burgers, rolls, tacos, wines, and vegan items. Another good restaurant near Tigertail Beach is Sami’s, a pizza restaurant featuring homemade pizza, breadsticks, and chicken wings.

If you are looking for a hotel near Tigertail Beach, you can drive eight minutes to the 4-Star Marriott's Crystal Shores that features a bar, fitness center, snack bar, game room, an open-air restaurant, fishing tours, and two pools. Marco Beach Vacation Suites is an upscale 3-Star hotel with a pool and Raquetball room. If you are looking for an affordable hotel near Tigertail Beach, The Boat House Motel is a 2-Star hotel that welcomes pets and offers a pool – and boating and canoeing tours.