Lovers Key State Park still has the same 2.5 miles of Gulf beach and still charges $8 per car. It still opens at 8 a.m. and closes at sunset, 365 days a year. The trip from the car to the sand is what's different. The tram that used to carry beachgoers and their coolers across the water has been discontinued. The park has sold no food, drinks, bait or souvenirs since May 1, 2026. That leaves two pedestrian bridges and whatever you can carry over them.
The state's newest plan for the park doesn't bring the tram back. It focuses on the bridges. So a good Lovers Key day now depends on which crossing you pick and what's in your cart, not on what the park sells.
From Lot 1 to the Sand, On Foot
Florida State Parks says the tram ended "due to long-term resilience planning." Beach access now runs on foot or by bike through two entry points. The park doesn't give a date when service stopped, and no announced service has replaced it.
Both bridges start at parking lot #1, and the distance is the main difference between them.
| Crossing | Distance from Lot 1 | What the state's draft plan proposes |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-Beach Wood Bridge | 1,000 feet | Rebuild the boardwalk bridge to the middle beach and add a restroom on its landward side |
| South Beach Concrete Bridge | Half a mile | Keep evaluating whether the bridge is still structurally sound |
A thousand feet is a short walk with a beach bag. Half a mile is a real haul with an umbrella, chairs, a cooler and a child who wanted to go home ten minutes ago. If you're carrying gear, the Mid-Beach Wood Bridge is the practical default. The south crossing makes more sense for someone traveling light or arriving by bike who wants a quieter stretch at that end of the beach.
The State's Draft Plan Starts With the Middle Bridge
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection posted a draft management plan for Lovers Key in June 2026. Its beach-access section is short and specific:
- Reconstruct the boardwalk bridge to the middle beach.
- Build a restroom at the landward side of that bridge.
- Continue evaluating the structural viability of the bridge to the southern beach.
The plan never mentions a replacement tram. The closest idea is a feasibility study for passenger ferry access from offsite locations. That study would look for a suitable arrival and departure site inside the park and any infrastructure it would need. For the main parking and concession area, the plan calls for repairing a restroom, adding interpretive elements and replacing the concession building.
All of that is proposed. The draft has no construction schedule, so none of these projects has a date. What the plan does show is direction. The state's proposals target the walk to the beach and study the water as another way in, which points to bridges and possibly boats as the way forward.
The plan also explains why the park keeps rethinking its waterfront structures. It records mangrove restoration work after Hurricanes Ian, Helene and Milton. The News-Press reported in June 2023 that the park was reopening nine months after Ian, following extensive repairs.
Everything You Used to Buy There, You Now Bring
Bridge choice is half the planning. The other half is that the park sells nothing to eat. With no gift shop, bait shop or food and beverage service, a forgotten water bottle can't be fixed once you're on the sand.
Rentals have changed hands too. For nearly 20 years, the Richards family ran Lovers Key Adventures, renting kayaks, chairs and umbrellas since 2007. Gulf Coast News reported in November 2025 that the business was closing after the state ended its contract. The business had also faced three hurricanes and COVID-19. The same report noted that Hurricane Ian had taken down a gazebo at the park and that the state had opened bidding for a new vendor.
Florida State Parks now lists Matt's Beach Shack as the rental provider, reachable at 239-366-6624. It handles kayaks, paddleboards, fishing equipment, beach chairs, umbrellas and full beach setups. Matt's says reservations aren't required. A rented setup means one less thing to haul across the bridge, and that matters more now than it did when the tram did the hauling.
Before you head over, a short checklist built around the walk:
- Food and drinks for the whole day. Nothing is sold inside the park.
- Something with wheels. A beach cart, wagon or bike makes the walk easier, especially on the half-mile south route.
- A plan for which bridge. Head to the Mid-Beach Wood Bridge if you're carrying gear. The South Beach Concrete Bridge is the longer route.
- A call to 239-366-6624 if you'd rather rent chairs and an umbrella than carry your own.
- Bait, if you're fishing. The bait shop is closed, though fishing equipment is still available to rent.
The Back Half of the Park Never Needed the Tram
The tram only ever served the beach. The rest of Lovers Key, the trails, the estuary and the boat ramp, is reached from the main park drive, and that experience has held up better.
The Black Island Trail winds through maritime hammock along Black Island's canal banks for hiking or biking. The park's amenities page lists it at 2.5 miles, while its trail page puts it at 5 miles and describes two loops joined by a service road, so the distance you cover depends on the route you take. The Eagle Trail adds 1.1 miles along the island's inner waterways. Both trails are mostly grass and compacted soil, with pockets of sand and occasional mud. The park counts more than seven miles of trails in total, including the beach and the paved path along the main drive.
On the water, a 2.5-mile mangrove-protected estuary is open to paddlers. The park says manatees, dolphins, alligators, osprey and bald eagles can be seen there, and the kayak launch is ADA accessible. The park calls itself one of the best birding areas in Southwest Florida. It has recorded more than 40 bird varieties, 17 of them on the designated species list. Active osprey nests, roseate spoonbills, snowy egrets and American kestrels are often seen feeding in the bays and hammocks. Anglers fish for trout, redfish, snook and tarpon in season, and cast netting for mullet is popular in the bay.
The boat ramp, which gives direct access to Estero Bay and the Gulf, is a work in progress. The park's amenities page says the ramp is open while docks are replaced and restrooms repaired, and boat trailer parking is limited. The main park page still shows an older notice about a partial closure beginning in July 2026, and neither page gives an end date. If you're trailering a boat, call the park at 239-707-6328 before you go.
Two Ranger Programs This Week
Two ranger programs are on the calendar in the next few days, and neither requires crossing to the beach with a full load.
The Fishing Clinic, led by a park naturalist, runs Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. It's free with park entry, and advance registration is required. With the bait shop closed, a session that walks through the basics on site is a practical way back into fishing here.
A ranger-led Shell Walk follows on Friday, October 9, 2026, also from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The park describes its beach as having some of the best shelling on the Lee County coast. Collecting live shells and sea stars is prohibited. A morning walk with a ranger is a low-effort way to see how the beach has recovered, and a 1,000-foot walk over the Mid-Beach Wood Bridge with just a shell bag is easy.
Lovers Key is still open from 8 a.m. to sunset at 8700 Estero Blvd., and entry is $8 per vehicle. Until any part of the state's plan reaches construction, the beach day you get depends on the bridge you pick and the food you pack.
Small changes like these, from a missing tram to a new rental operator, are the kind of local detail we keep track of for clients across Bonita Springs and Southwest Florida. If you'd like an update on how Lovers Key's draft plan moves forward, or a few other spots to add to your weekend list, Doreen Doyle and The Doyle Group are always glad to talk. Work With Us.
