There is construction fencing at the south end of Hickory Boulevard. Since Tuesday, September 8, 2026, the parking lot and amenities at Bonita Beach Park have been closed while Lee County repairs damage left by Hurricane Ian. The lot at Little Hickory Island Beach Park, also known as Beach Access #10, closed the same day. The beach is still open. Most of the change is in where you leave the car and what you pay.
The lots that closed are the ones that charged $2 an hour. Bonita Beach Park's lot did not take Lee County's Annual Parking Subscription. The eight smaller accesses between the two closed parks still list parking at no charge. For the 2026–27 season, those free accesses become the main way onto Bonita Beach, and everything else on this page is measured against them.
What Is Behind the Fence, and for How Long
These are repairs to restore what Hurricane Ian damaged. Lee County says, according to SWFL.life, the timing came from the long process of securing federal reimbursement. The work at each site is different:
| Site | Address | Lot status | Work planned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonita Beach Park | 27954 Hickory Blvd. | Closed since Sept. 8, 2026 | Repairs to the county office building, the restroom, boardwalks and pavilions |
| Bonita Beach Access #1 | 27890 Hickory Blvd. | Closed or closing by November; check the county page | Restoration; walkers headed to Bonita Beach Park use this access during the work |
| Little Hickory Island Beach Park / Access #10 | 26082 Hickory Blvd. | Closed since Sept. 8, 2026 | Structures, boardwalks and pavilions restored; the restroom building destroyed by the hurricane will be replaced |
The county's sources disagree about Access #1. A September 2 release said its lot would stay open until November, when its own restoration would start. The county's parking lot listing now shows that lot as closed starting September 8, 2026. Until the county issues a dated update, the lot is either closed already or will close within weeks. Check that page before you drive down.
On timing, Lee County says most of its beach-park projects take about 11 months. The county's project tracker estimates the combined Bonita restoration will finish in late summer 2027, weather permitting. That is an estimate, not a set reopening date. So these closures cover the whole winter season and most of next summer.
At Little Hickory, the county planned to move the portable restrooms outside the construction fence, closer to the road, so beach-goers could still use them.
Eight Accesses That Never Charged
Lee County lists Bonita Beach Accesses #2 through #9 at these Hickory Boulevard addresses, running south to north:
- #2 at 27720
- #3 at 27494
- #4 at 27260
- #5 at 27010
- #6 at 26786
- #7 at 26590
- #8 at 26410
- #9 at 26220
They are open dawn to dusk, and the county's Bonita Beach Access page lists parking at all eight as free.
Before the closures, a three-hour afternoon at Bonita Beach Park cost $6 in parking. The free accesses sat between the two biggest paid lots on the island. Now the paid lots are fenced, so the free ones are what's left.
The county does not publish space counts for the individual accesses. These are smaller sites than the parks, and the county's beach guide tells visitors to plan ahead for parking after Labor Day 2026 and into season. If a lot is full, the next access north or south is a short drive up Hickory Boulevard.
When You Leave the Car on U.S. 41
For trips to Bonita Beach Park itself, Lee County points to LeeTran's ULTRA On Demand. This is a minibus you book through the ULTRA app, and it connects central Bonita Springs with the beach park. Here's how it works:
- Park for free in the shopping center lot at 3300 Bonita Beach Road SW, at the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Bonita Beach Road. WGCU identifies it as the Publix center.
- Book through the ULTRA app or call LeeTran at 239-533-8726, option 7.
- Plan your trip home. Bonita service runs seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the last ride request is at 7:30 p.m.
The fare is $3 a ride, or $6 round trip for each paying passenger. LeeTran's ULTRA page is advertising the code BONITARIDE for one $1.50 ride.
Compare that with the old $2 hourly rate. A couple riding round trip pays $12, which is what six hours in the old Bonita Beach Park lot used to cost. A single rider pays about the same as a three-hour visit did. For a solo trip to the south end, the shuttle costs roughly what parking used to. For a group, the free accesses up the road cost less.
A few limits matter on beach days. Each rider may bring two carry-on-sized bags, so ask before bringing bulky gear. Children under 5 need a child seat supplied by an adult. One child age 6 or younger rides free with each paying adult. If you live inside the ULTRA service zone, you can book a pickup from home and skip the shopping center.
The Beaches Past Either End of Hickory Boulevard
Two other beaches are close, and each has its own fee.
Just south across the county line, Collier County's Barefoot Beach Preserve is open year-round from 8 a.m. to sunset. Visitors without a Collier County Resident Beach Parking Permit pay $10 to park. Collier residents can get that permit free with proof of residency. For a Bonita Springs household in Lee County, this is the priciest option on the list.
To the north, Lovers Key State Park is open from 8 a.m. to sundown every day of the year. Admission is $8 for a vehicle with two to eight people, $4 for a single-occupant vehicle or motorcycle, and $2 for pedestrians and bicyclists. The $8 vehicle admission at Lovers Key costs less than two people riding the shuttle round trip.
Here is every option from the lowest cost to the highest:
| Option | Cost for a carload |
|---|---|
| Bonita Beach Accesses #2–#9 | Free |
| Lovers Key State Park | $8 per vehicle for two to eight people |
| Barefoot Beach Preserve | $10 without a Collier resident permit |
| ULTRA from 3300 Bonita Beach Road SW | $3 per paying passenger each way |
The South End Is Still Open for Business
The fencing is around the county parks, not the whole block. Doc's Beach House, at 27908 Hickory Blvd., lists hours of 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Gulfshore Life's visitor listing puts Bonita Jet Ski & Parasail at 27890 Hickory Blvd., the same address as Access #1. The listing says it rents jet skis, chairs, umbrellas, paddleboards and kayaks. With the access lot affected, call ahead to confirm this season's arrangements.
Farther north, Bonita Boat Rentals at 26395 Hickory Blvd. rents pontoon boats daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Its site is advertising a promotion that runs through December 18, 2026. That address is near Access #8 at 26410, one of the free lots.
The Pass Discount That Already Expired
The City of Bonita Springs ran a pilot this year that paid eligible full-time residents or taxpayers $50 toward a $60 Lee County annual beach pass. It covered purchases from June 1 to September 30, 2026, and was first-come, first-served with a cap of 300 reimbursements. That window closed at the end of September. The city's announcement does not mention an extension.
Even during the pilot, the annual pass did not work at Bonita Beach Park, which only took hourly payment. For the rest of this season and into late summer 2027, the eight free accesses between 27720 and 26220 Hickory Boulevard are the cheapest way onto Bonita Beach.
If construction schedules are part of how you're planning a season on or near Hickory Boulevard, Amy Nease is glad to share what she knows about the Bonita Beach shoreline. Request a private consultation.
