Bowman's beach

White sand beach
Bridge at Bowman's Beach, Old Blind Pass, Sanibel, FL 33957, USA, Sanibel, FL 33957, USA
333 miles from Panama City Beach, FL
Cleanliness
Water quality
Crowded
Impressions
Overall
Grades suggested by our reviewer
Water Quality
Pass (read more)

Beach amenities

  • PlaygroundKids will have fun!
  • Changing roomsDressing rooms on the beach
  • Public grillsGrills or fire pits
  • WCPublic restrooms nearby
  • ShowerPublic showers available
  • Pet friendlyBring your little friends!
  • Picnic tablesPicnic benches available
  • ParkingCar parking nearby
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About this beach

Warnings and hazards

Shells are rough! Wear shoes when walking from the parking lot to the beach.

Not the best beach to visit if you have mobility issues.

There’s not much to do on Sanibel island except for walking, taking photos, shelling, picnicking, swimming, dreaming, watching nature and enjoying the most amazing sunsets in Florida! My kind of place.

Bowman’s beach is a gorgeous sandy beach on the western end of the island.

The parking is $5 per hour, credit cards only! The lot is almost always packed with vehicles. A somewhat long walk to the beach from the parking lot (about 1/4 mile), so pack light. We rented a couple of bikes and didn’t use the parking at all.

The beach area is huge. The beach is very clean, as well as the water – perfect for snorkeling. 

If you own a kayak or a canoe, there’s an area where you can launch it from.

Pets are welcome but must be leashed.

Amenities include two bathrooms, changing rooms, lots of picnic tables (those are away from the beach front though), rinse showers, a workout trail, grills and a playground for the little ones. There’s a vending machine for drinks. There are no restaurants or takeaways, so bring your own food. Don’t forget towels to sit on, and if you’re serious about your beach vacation bring towels and a fridge, too.

Shells are literally everywhere. Zillions of them!

Overall, an amazing and unspoiled place worth visiting.

What we loved

  • BEST shelling experience ever!
  • Seriously the most amazing sunsets in Florida.

Driving Time

  • 50 minutes from Fort Myers, FL
  • 2 hours 50 minutes from Tampa, FL
  • 3 hours from Miami, FL

Hotels and rentals

If you're considering staying for one or even a few nights, there are plenty of options available near the beach. Chose your preferred accomodation type and your favourite room provider:

Beaches nearby

Additionally, there's a number of beaches near Bowman's beach which you can visit:

Beach reviewed by:
Steve
Ask me a question about this beach! 👈
Photos from Google Maps
Empty beachClouds over the seaPeople on the beachBeach palms and a wooden boardwalkBowman's beach on Sanibel IslandBowman's BeachBowman's beach on Sanibel IslandView from the beachBowman's beach shoreBowman's beach
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Sleeps 10 - Available Year Round - Huge Private Home
4.9
1.1mi from this beach
House
Sleeps 10 - Available Year Round - Huge Private Home photoSleeps 10 - Available Year Round - Huge Private Home photoSleeps 10 - Available Year Round - Huge Private Home photoSleeps 10 - Available Year Round - Huge Private Home photoSleeps 10 - Available Year Round - Huge Private Home photoSleeps 10 - Available Year Round - Huge Private Home photo
Internet
Air Conditioning
Pets Welcome
Fireplace
TV
Satellite or cable
Washer & Dryer
Children Welcome
Parking
No Smoking
Heater

INCREDIBLE - Huge 4 Bedroom, 3 bath, private home with 2 car garage and RV parking. 400 yards to our private access, pristine beach. Four TV's, Free Cable TV, WIFI and phone
Your Island Paradise. Pick fresh limes from our mature fruit trees for your tropical beverage. Also Mangos, Mulberrys, Florida Peaches, Grapefruit, Oranges, Lechee Nuts
This home has it all, just bring your tooth brush.
Keywords: House

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SERENITY
11541 Wightman Lane, Captiva, 33924, United States
4.9mi from this beach
Holiday home
SERENITY photoSERENITY photoSERENITY photoSERENITY photoSERENITY photo
1 swimming pool
Free parking
Free WiFi

Situated in Captiva, SERENITY provides a private pool. The air-conditioned accommodation is 350 feet from Captiva Beach, and guests benefit from complimentary WiFi and private parking available on site.

The holiday home features 3 bedrooms, a TV with satellite channels and a fully equipped kitchen that provides guests with a dishwasher, a microwave, a washing machine, a fridge and an oven.

At the holiday home guests are welcome to take advantage of a hot tub. SERENITY features an outdoor swimming pool and a barbecue.

The nearest airport is Southwest Florida International Airport, 27.3 miles from the accommodation.

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Starfish West
11525 Laika Lane, Captiva, 33924, United States
4.9mi from this beach
Holiday home
Starfish West photoStarfish West photoStarfish West photoStarfish West photoStarfish West photo
Pets allowed
Free parking
Free WiFi

Situated in Captiva, 650 feet from Captiva Beach, Starfish West features air-conditioned accommodation with a balcony and free WiFi. Boasting free private parking, the holiday home is in an area where guests can engage in activities such as hiking, cycling and fishing.

The holiday home features 2 bedrooms, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and a fully equipped kitchen that provides guests with a dishwasher, a microwave, a washing machine, a fridge and an oven.

The holiday home offers a barbecue.

The nearest airport is Southwest Florida International Airport, 26.7 miles from Starfish West.

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Starfish East
11525 Laika Lane, Captiva, 33924, United States
4.9mi from this beach
Holiday home
Starfish East photoStarfish East photoStarfish East photoStarfish East photoStarfish East photo
Pets allowed
Free parking
Free WiFi

Starfish East is located in Captiva and offers a garden and barbecue facilities. The air-conditioned accommodation is 650 feet from Captiva Beach, and guests benefit from private parking available on site and free WiFi.

The holiday home is equipped with 2 bedrooms, a TV with satellite channels and a fully equipped kitchen that provides guests with a dishwasher, a microwave, a washing machine, a fridge and an oven.

The nearest airport is Southwest Florida International Airport, 26.7 miles from the holiday home.

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Casablanca
11547 Laika Lane, Captiva, 33924, United States
5.0mi from this beach
Holiday home
Casablanca photoCasablanca photoCasablanca photoCasablanca photoCasablanca photo
1 swimming pool
Free parking
Free WiFi

Boasting air-conditioned accommodation with a patio, Casablanca is situated in Captiva. This holiday home has a private pool, a garden, barbecue facilities, free WiFi and free private parking.

The holiday home features 4 bedrooms, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and a fully equipped kitchen that provides guests with a dishwasher, a microwave, a washing machine, a fridge and an oven.

The holiday home offers an outdoor pool. Guests at Casablanca can enjoy table tennis on site, or fishing in the surroundings.

Captiva Beach is 350 feet from the accommodation. The nearest airport is Southwest Florida International Airport, 27.3 miles from Casablanca.

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Visitor questions:

Question: are you allowed to have a fire on the beach for cooking
Asked by Sheila Keyser over 4 years ago
Answer: Sanibel Island authorities prohibit burning open fires anywhere on the island. But you can use public grills that are available on Bowman's Beach.

Bowman's beach videos

Beachcombing Bowmans Beach Sanibel
An intriguing video of sea treasures found on the beach
Bowman's Beach, Sanibel Island, FL
A serene drone-made video of the beach

Weather conditions

Current weather at the beach and 3 day forecast

Best times to visit

Average temperature (°F)
Beach map and directions
The beach is located in Sanibel, Florida Bridge at Bowman's Beach, Old Blind Pass, Sanibel, FL 33957, USA, Sanibel, FL 33957, USA (Open on Google Maps)
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Bowman's beach reviews and photos
Reviewed on: April 14, 2020
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