Captiva Island may be five miles long, but it’s less than two square miles in size. As a small island, parking options are limited. Knowing where to park, how much it costs, and what to do when the lots are full will make or break any Captiva Island day trip. We’re here to make sure your day isn’t a bust.
Insider Tip: No matter where you park, arrive early.
Captiva Island Parking Options
Parking options on Captiva Island fall into two categories: Beach parking and local business parking.
If you’re staying on the island, your best option is to keep your car at your rental unit. Getting around Captiva Island (link) is easy. Without a car you can avoid the cost and hassle of looking for a parking spot.
Parking for Beachgoers
Captiva Island has two parking lots for beachgoers: Turner Beach lot and Alison Hagerup Beach Park lot. Both are adjacent to the Captiva Island public beaches.
For both locations, be aware that parking is limited. If you’re planning a day trip to Captiva Island, the best advice is to arrive early.
We recently spent a perfect Sunday on Captiva Island, having just checked out of the Island Inn on Sanibel Island. We arrived at the Alison Hagerup lot at 11:30 a.m. and it was already full. This torpedoed our plans to park early and spend the day at the beach.
Turner Beach Lot
The first, and smallest, of the public parking lots on Captiva Island is the Turner Beach lot. Located at Blind Pass – the channel that divides Captiva and Sanibel Islands – this parking lot is the first thing you see on the gulf side as you cross onto Captiva. It’s on your immediate left. If you blink, you’ll miss it, with only enough room for a handful of cars.
As of April 2021, the parking rate is $5 per hour, making it the most affordable of the lots on the island.
If you plan to park here and head north to the island’s main village, you may want to bring a bike; it’s just under 3 miles from Turner Beach to Andy Rosse Lane.
Alison Hagerup Beach Lot
Located at the end of Captiva Drive, this is the larger of the two public parking lots on the Island. To get to the Alison Hagerup Beach lot, follow Captiva Dr. past the South Seas main entrance. About a block down, the road takes you straight into the lot.
You may have sticker shock when you see the cost. As of April 2021, the rate was $25 for two hours, $40 for the entire day. But it’s well worth it. This lot is managed by the Captiva Erosion Prevention District (website), which works to keep Captiva Island from washing away into the gulf.
Given the hard work of the CEPD on its Captiva Island Beach Restoration Project, think of parking here as a donation to preserve this beautiful island.
If the lot is full, there will likely be orange cones blocking the entrance and a small traffic jam of cars being turned away.
Insider Tip: The parking lot does have a high turnover rate in the afternoon. If you stop for lunch at a restaurant or do some shopping, try checking back for a spot.
Parking for Shoppers and Diners
If you’re heading to Captiva Island for shopping or dining, you’re in luck. Free parking is available at many businesses.
Keep in mind that parking spaces at most places are few in numbers and limited to patrons. If you’ve ever been to one of the Captiva Island restaurants (link) near mealtime, you’ve likely seen the cars lined up for a coveted spot.
McCarthy’s Marina does have a pay lot for parking, limited to Captiva Cruises customers during their cruise only. Rates in 2021 are $20. Parking for their cruises departing from the South Seas marina is $5.
Before you ask, you cannot park at a business and head to the beach for the day. Those spots are for customers only and they mean it. You’ll likely get towed if you take the risk. This applies when renting bikes from Yolo or Island Adventures as an alternative to paying for parking at a lot.
Street Parking Is Prohibited
Yes, street parking is prohibited on Captiva Island. You’re almost certain to see a Lee County Sheriff Deputy waiting around to give you a ticket if you ignore the ample “no parking” signs.
Much of this is due to safety. The island is very narrow and there are no sidewalks other than a limited section on Andy Rosse Ln. The shoulder on Captiva Dr. (the main road on the island), is reserved for walkers, cyclists, and golf carts.
May the island parking odds be ever in your favor!
