Lee County scheduled the parking lot at Bonita Beach Access #1, 27890 Hickory Blvd., to close for restoration work starting Sunday, Nov. 1, with walk-on access to the beach kept open throughout. Construction fencing went up eight weeks earlier at Bonita Beach Park, just south of it at 27954 Hickory Blvd., and at Little Hickory Island Beach Park, which is also Access #10, at 26082 Hickory Blvd. The sand, the water and the walk-on paths are all still open. The parking lots and the facilities that came with them are closed.
What's left open is the plain part of Bonita Beach: eight numbered access points along Hickory Boulevard with free parking and no amenities listed. For the next several months, you'll plan a beach day around that.
The Three Closed Sites Had the Beach's Facilities
All three sites that closed are full beach parks or sit right beside one. According to Lee County's Sept. 2 notice, crews are restoring boardwalks and pavilions at Bonita Beach Park and Little Hickory, repairing a restroom and a county office building at Bonita Beach Park, and replacing the Little Hickory restroom building that Hurricane Ian destroyed. Access #1 falls under the same restoration contract. It never had restrooms of its own. Its county page sends visitors to the ones at Bonita Beach Park, which are now behind a construction fence.
| Site | Address | Parking closed | Work planned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonita Beach Park | 27954 Hickory Blvd. | Sept. 8, 2026 | Restroom, county office building, boardwalks, pavilions |
| Little Hickory Island Beach Park, Access #10 | 26082 Hickory Blvd. | Sept. 8, 2026 | New restroom building, boardwalks, pavilions |
| Bonita Beach Access #1 | 27890 Hickory Blvd. | Nov. 1, 2026 | Restoration under the same contract |
Access #1 was also the one paid lot in this group that the county lists with a posted rate. It charged $2 an hour and accepted the Lee County Parks and Recreation Annual Parking Pass. If your annual pass mostly got you into that lot, it does less for you on Bonita Beach until the work is done.
Why the Fences Went Up Just Before Season
Starting construction the week after Labor Day may look like poor timing, but the county explained it. In its Sept. 2 release, Lee County said it was starting the work then because federal reimbursement for the projects had come through, so local taxpayer dollars wouldn't have to cover them. The county expects most of its beach park projects to take about 11 months and says the beaches will stay open the whole time. The county has not posted a separate finish date for any of the Bonita sites.
The contracts show what's coming. Gulfshore Business reported that on June 16, Lee County commissioners approved a $6.95 million contract with O-A-K/Florida Inc. covering Bonita Beach Park, Access #1 and Little Hickory Island Beach Park. The scope includes boardwalks, pavilions, showers, landscaping and parking areas, a new restroom building at Little Hickory, and restroom and office repairs at Bonita Beach Park. When the fences come down, those three sites should have more working facilities than they've had since 2022.
The Eight Free Accesses Along Hickory Boulevard
Lee County didn't announce parking closures at Accesses #2 through #9. The county page for those accesses lists all eight as free to park. By street address, they run in order between the two closed parks:
- Access #2, 27720 Hickory Blvd.
- Access #3, 27494 Hickory Blvd.
- Access #4, 27260 Hickory Blvd.
- Access #5, 27010 Hickory Blvd.
- Access #6, 26786 Hickory Blvd.
- Access #7, 26590 Hickory Blvd.
- Access #8, 26410 Hickory Blvd.
- Access #9, 26220 Hickory Blvd.
The county page lists only one feature for these sites, beach access. It says nothing about restrooms, showers or pavilions. The rules match the rest of the beach: no pets, no fires and no grilling on the sand.
The nearest announced restroom option is at the north end. The county moved the portable restrooms that were inside Little Hickory Island Beach Park to outside the construction fence, closer to the road, so beachgoers can still use them. By address, Little Hickory sits just past Access #9. On a long morning at Access #8 or #9, those portables are a short trip. From Access #2 or #3, they're at the far end of the strip.
There's also a second, smaller contract to watch. According to the same Gulfshore Business report, commissioners approved $1.1 million for Marine Contracting Group Inc. to rebuild or repair eight boardwalks damaged by Ian, including Bonita Beach Accesses #3, #4, #5, #8 and #9. No schedule for that work has been published. If you have a favorite among those five, check the county facility page before you go. Accesses #2, #6 and #7 aren't named in either contract.
The county also posts a reminder for this whole stretch. Its page says the beaches haven't been restored to pre-Ian conditions, debris still washes ashore and can be quickly covered by sand, and beachgoers should wear beach shoes at all times.
Leaving the Car Near U.S. 41
If you'd rather not compete for the free spaces on Hickory Boulevard, Lee County is pointing Bonita beachgoers to LeeTran's ULTRA On Demand service. The county describes it as a connection between central Bonita Springs and Bonita Beach Park. It also offers pickups and drop-offs anywhere inside the ULTRA service zone.
Here's how it works, based on the county notice and LeeTran's February 2026 Transit Development Plan:
- Where to park: Free parking is in the shopping center lot at 3300 Bonita Beach Road SW.
- Where to catch it: The designated pickup spot is in the parking lot at the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Bonita Beach Road.
- How to book: Request a ride in the ULTRA app or by calling LeeTran customer service.
- When it runs: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Sunday, with same-day requests accepted until 5:30 p.m.
- What it costs: $3 per ride, according to the February 2026 plan.
Service ends at 6 p.m., which matters if you like to stay at the beach into the evening. Current details are at RideLeeTran.com.
When the Day Calls for Restrooms and a Paid Lot
Some beach days need more than sand and a free parking space, like when you're hosting guests for the holidays, bringing grandchildren, or planning to stay until sunset. For those, the closest options with parking are a short drive in either direction, and each has its own fee.
Barefoot Beach Preserve. Across the county line, Collier County lists Barefoot Beach Preserve as open year-round from 8 a.m. to sunset. Parking costs $10 unless your vehicle has a Collier County resident beach parking permit. Details are on Collier County's Barefoot Beach Preserve page.
Lovers Key State Park. Florida State Parks lists Lovers Key as open 8 a.m. to sunset, 365 days a year, at $8 per vehicle. One change for longtime visitors: the park's current notice says the tram has been discontinued, so you reach the beach on foot or by bicycle. If you're carrying chairs, a cooler and an umbrella, plan for that walk. The Lovers Key page has the current notices.
So the choice comes down to your plans for the day. A free access on Hickory Boulevard works well for a swim, a walk or a sunrise. Barefoot Beach and Lovers Key cost something to park but are better suited to a longer day. The two big Lee County parks on Bonita Beach are expected to stay fenced for most of the coming year while the repairs from the federally reimbursed contracts are finished.
Conditions at construction sites change from week to week, so it's smart to check the Bonita Beach Access #1 page and the Accesses #2 through #9 page before you head out.
At The Westerfield Group, we're keeping an eye on the Bonita Beach restoration as the work moves from site to site. If you're hosting family this winter or trying to work out which stretch of Hickory Boulevard suits your routine best, we're glad to share what we're seeing out there. Let's Connect.
