BeachesWith
Vanderbilt Beach: wide sandy beach with scattered people, buildings and sky6 photos
Photo: proshob, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (source)

Vanderbilt Beach

Naples, Florida

Ocean beach in Naples, facing west, with parking, bathrooms, and restaurants within walking distance.

  • Calm water 9.3
  • Sunset over water
  • No dogs
  • Pier
  • HoursClosed now, opens 8:00 am
  • Parking$10 per day
  • DirectionsGoogle Maps
7.1/ 10Very good
How we score beaches
Calm water
9.3 of 10
Water
89 Ftoday
Sunset
7:36 pmover the water
Parking
$10 per day
Rip risk
Lowrest of today
Families
Very good
74of 100

Today, Thursday, Sep 10

Fair beach day

Calm water · very warm water · light wind. Watch: 44% rain chance.

76 Fmostly clear
High
89 F
Sea temperature
89 F
Waves
0.3 ftup to 0.5 ft
Wind
6 mphup to 9 mph
Rain chance
44%
UV index
7high
Sun
7:11 am to 7:36 pm
Surf zoneNWS Miami forecast for Coastal Collier County, issued 4:11 pm EDT, Wed Sep 9
  • Rip current riskLowrest of today
  • Surf1 ft or less
  • ThunderstormsHigh
  • Rip risk thursdayLow
Tidesnext high at 1:27 am
  1. High1:27 am2.4 ft
  2. Low7:04 am1.0 ft
  3. High1:11 pm3.0 ft
  4. Low7:48 pm0.5 ft
  1. 8:00 am · best76 Fovercast, 1% rain, 6 mph
  2. 11:00 am86 Fovercast, 5% rain, 6 mph
  3. 2:00 pm88 Fclear, 17% rain, 8 mph
  4. 5:00 pm83 Fovercast, 44% rain, 2 mph

Forecast for Thursday, Sep 10, local time (GMT-4). Weather data by Open-Meteo.com, refreshed hourly. Sea temperature and waves are model values for the nearest offshore point. Tides from NOAA CO-OPS station Little Hickory Island (8725283), 7.1 mi from the beach, heights above MLLW. Rip current risk and surf from the National Weather Service Surf Zone Forecast for the zone; a low risk still means rip currents near piers, jetties, and inlets.The rating rule is on the methodology page. Planning a future date? See typical weather by month.

Great for

  • FamiliesVery goodCalm water 9.3, bathrooms nearby
  • SwimmingExcellentWaves around 1.2 ft, sea 79 F on average
  • SunsetsExcellentover the water 11 months a year
  • ConvenienceGood16 parking lots, 5 places to eat
How the Beach Score is calculated: 7.1 of 10

The score is the sum of the components below. Clear water counts only where a clarity source exists. Rankings never take revenue as an input.

ComponentPointsFact
Facilities2.5 of 3Within walking distance: parking, bathrooms, restaurants.
Calm water1.9 of 2Mean daily maximum wave 1.2 ft.
Warm water0.7 of 1Mean sea temperature 79 F.
Sunset over water1.0 of 111 months a year, July to May.

Ranks #1 of 41 for showers in Florida, #2 of 67 for pier in Florida, #2 of 37 for beachfront hotels in Florida, #3 of 124 for parking in Florida, #3 of 56 for sunset over water in Florida. All beaches in Florida.

Verdicts on the cards come from the same facts. Sources: OpenStreetMap (Sep 10, 2026), Open-Meteo (Sep 10, 2026), Operator official pages (hours, fees, rules) (Sep 6, 2026). The formula is on the methodology page.

Aerial view of Vanderbilt Beach in Naples, Florida, shoreline and surroundings, USDA NAIP imagery from May 2023
Vanderbilt Beach: sandy beach at sunset with high-rise hotels and ocean waves
Vanderbilt Beach: sunset over ocean with silhouetted surfers in water

Aerial imagery: USDA NAIP 2023 via USGS National Map, public domain (source) · Photo: Mickey Løgitmark, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (source) · Photo: Mickey Løgitmark, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (source)View all 6 photos

Amenities

  • Parking16 nearby
  • Free parkingNo
  • Bathrooms1 nearby
  • Showers1 nearby
  • Restaurants and bars5 nearby
  • Beachfront hotels5 nearby
  • Hotels nearby8 nearby
  • Dogs allowedNo
  • Beachfront campingNo
  • Camping nearbyNo
  • Pier17 nearby
  • BoardwalkNo

Water, sand, and nature

  • Sunset over waterYes, July to May
  • Calm water9.3 of 10
  • Warm water7.3 of 10

Nearby means within walking distance of the beach centre (980 ft to 1,640 ft, by kind), from OpenStreetMap. Scores are 0 to 10. Sources: OpenStreetMap (Sep 10, 2026), Open-Meteo (Sep 10, 2026), Operator official pages (hours, fees, rules) (Sep 6, 2026); the method for each is on the methodology page.

Hours, fees, and rules

Hours
8 a.m. to sunset, daily
Parking fee
Parking $10 per day (free with a Collier County resident beach parking permit)
Dogs
No dogs
Operator
Run by Collier County
Address
Vanderbilt Beach Road, Collier County, FL 34108

From Collier County Parks and Recreation, checked Sep 6, 2026. Hours and fees change; the official page is the final word. Address from OpenStreetMap (nearest road, approximate).

Sunset and sunrise

The shore faces west (259 degrees). The sun sets over the water in 11 months, July to May.

Computed from the OpenStreetMap coastline and the sunset azimuth for each month.

Planning a trip

Early October is usually hot, with very warm water and a higher chance of a rainy day.

Water
82 FVery warm
High
86 FHot
Rainy day
42%Rain is common
Waves
1.4 ftUsually calm
Sunset
Yesover the water in October

What to expect

  • Very warm swimming water, around 82 F
  • Typically calm conditions, waves around 1.4 ft
  • Rainy days are common in October (12 a month)
  • Sunset over the water
  • October is within Atlantic hurricane season, at its peak
Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, peak from mid-August to late October. Storm history near this beach

2 October storms within 62.1 mi since 1980, about one every 23 years, 1 at hurricane strength. Most recent in any month: Hurricane Ian, September 2022, 38.2 mi away. Source: NOAA HURDAT2 best tracks, counted at tropical storm strength or stronger. Season dates from the NOAA National Hurricane Center.

Vanderbilt Beach through the year

Warm water
Low rain
Calm water

Darker is better: warmer water, fewer rainy days, calmer water. Monthly means, 2023-2025, from Open-Meteo. Values for a date blend the nearest two months; the bands and the rule are on the methodology page.

When to go

  • Best overallOctober to Decemberwarm water · fewer rainy days · calm water · warm days
  • Warmest waterJuly to September89 F average
  • DriestNovember to February5 to 7 rainy days a month
  • Best for sunsetsJuly to MaySun sets over the water
All monthly averages, 2023-2025Vanderbilt Beach: sea and air temperature by monthMonthly mean sea surface temperature and daily maximum air temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.5060708090100JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecSea temperature (F)Air, daily max
MonthSea tempAir maxRain daysWave height
Jan66 F (19 C)72 F (22 C)71.6 ft
Feb70 F (21 C)76 F (25 C)61.4 ft
Mar74 F (24 C)79 F (26 C)101.6 ft
Apr78 F (26 C)83 F (28 C)91.4 ft
May84 F (29 C)87 F (30 C)131.1 ft
Jun87 F (30 C)87 F (30 C)231.1 ft
Jul89 F (32 C)89 F (32 C)220.7 ft
Aug89 F (32 C)89 F (32 C)221.1 ft
Sep87 F (31 C)88 F (31 C)181.0 ft
Oct81 F (27 C)85 F (30 C)121.4 ft
Nov75 F (24 C)81 F (27 C)51.3 ft
Dec70 F (21 C)76 F (24 C)61.4 ft

Monthly means, 2023-2025. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com. Wave height is the mean of daily maximum significant wave height.

Explore Vanderbilt Beach

Parking, food, stays, and facilities around the beach, mapped in OpenStreetMap within 0.7 mi.

All places near Vanderbilt Beach as a list (31)

Beach access Main access and 7 more · Nearest parking at the beach · Nearest food and drinks at the beach · Nearest restrooms 180 ft · Nearest showers 160 ft

Distances are straight-line to the nearest point of the beach as mapped in OpenStreetMap; walking times assume 80 m a minute. Access points are where OpenStreetMap paths, steps, and boardwalks meet the beach. Coordinates 26.2538, -81.8234. Open this spot in OpenStreetMap or Google Maps. Missing or wrong? Fix it in OpenStreetMap and it appears here after the next weekly update.

Nearby beaches

Questions about Vanderbilt Beach

Is there parking at Vanderbilt Beach?

Yes. 16 mapped parking areas within 1,310 ft, including Wiggins Pass Parking Area 1 and Wiggins Pass Parking Lot 2. Source: OpenStreetMap.

Are dogs allowed at Vanderbilt Beach?

No, dogs are tagged as not allowed in OpenStreetMap.

How warm is the water at Vanderbilt Beach?

Sea surface temperature averages 89 F (32 C) in July and 66 F (19 C) in January. Source: Open-Meteo marine model, monthly means.

Is the water calm at Vanderbilt Beach?

Calm water scores 9.3 of 10. Mean daily maximum wave height is 1.2 ft. Source: Open-Meteo marine model.

Can you see the sunset over the water at Vanderbilt Beach?

Yes, in 11 months a year (July to May), based on the shore direction and the monthly sunset azimuth.

When is hurricane season at Vanderbilt Beach?

Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, with the peak from mid-August to late October, per the NOAA National Hurricane Center. Since 1980, 15 named storms passed within 62.1 mi of the beach, 5 at hurricane strength, most in August, September and October. Source: NOAA HURDAT2 best tracks.

Sources

  • © OpenStreetMap contributors (data as of Sep 10, 2026)
  • Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (data as of Sep 10, 2026)
  • [operator], checked [date] (data as of Sep 6, 2026)
  • Storm tracks from the NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 archive, public domain (data as of Sep 10, 2026)
  • Tide predictions from NOAA CO-OPS station Little Hickory Island (8725283), public domain
  • Rip current risk, surf, and alerts from the National Weather Service MFL office for Coastal Collier County (FLZ069), public domain

Licenses and refresh dates for every dataset are on the data page. Something wrong? Every beach page has a report button; corrections are logged with a date.

© OpenStreetMap contributors. Beach location, shoreline, and amenity positions are from OpenStreetMap under the ODbL. Data updated Sep 10, 2026.