Beaches for Shelling in Florida

Honeymoon Island, located just a short ways away from Tampa, provides an escape from bustling city life for both tourists and locals alike. Over four miles of beach at one of the most loved state parks of Florida offer plenty of room for fun in the sand. Bicycling, hiking, shelling, fishing, and swimming are popular recreation activities at Honeymoon Island. The state park also features a nature center, where visitors can learn about the natural resources and history of Honeymoon Island, and a trail approximately three miles in length through some of the few virgin slash pine forests that still exist.

1 Causeway Blvd, Dunedin, FL 34698

Just north of Sanibel Island sits the long, slender Captiva Island. Captiva and Sanibel were once the same island but got split up in the 1920s after a bad hurricane hit the area. Now, Captiva Island is one of the top shelling destinations in Florida, with countless shells being washed up on the sands all around this island throughout the year. The best time to look for shells at Captiva Island is after a storm.

Just a little drive away from the beautiful coastal city of Naples, Marco Island offers some super shelling opportunities in the Sunshine State. One of the best beaches for shell collecting on this little island is Tigertail, which is situated on the northern part of Marco Island and also features several amenities and even a play area for children.

If you're looking to do some shelling in Florida, Cayo Costa is a must-visit location, but you'll need to be prepared as it's not actually possible to get to this beach by foot or car. Cayo Costa, located near Captiva and Sanibel, is only accessible by car but is one of the most pristine spots in all of Florida and is consistently filled with gorgeous, untouched shells just waiting to be plucked from the sand. Due to the difficult accessibility of this location, it never gets too crowded, so you can have the place to yourself if you choose the right times.

Not far from the city of Sarasota, Venice Beach is a very unique shelling spot. Why? Well, this beach is actually one of the best places in all of Florida to search for fossilized shark teeth. Plenty of pretty, colorful shells can also be found at this location, which offers gorgeous views of the Gulf of Mexico. Try looking near the pier for the best shelling results.

If you're looking to do some shelling on the Atlantic Coast of Florida, Jupiter Island is a great place to be. Not far from West Palm Beach, Jupiter comes with an entry fee that goes towards the conservation of this beautiful beach. More than 200 different kinds of shells have been found on this beach.

Naples beach is best known as a gathering spot for locals and residents to surf, sunbathe, and watch the sunset, but it's not a bad spot for shelling either. The fishing pier is a good spot to look for shells, and you can find some real gems at low tide.

This is unquestionably the number one shelling spot in all of Florida. Ask any Floridian resident for the best beach to do some shelling, and they'll immediately tell you to take a trip to Sanibel Island. Located on the Gulf Coast near Fort Myers, Sanibel is a little island that can be reached by a causeway and is well-known for its wildlife and lighthouse, along with its soft, welcoming beaches. Hundreds of different types of shells have been found at Sanibel over the years, with the gentle waters just off the coast providing the perfect conditions to keep the shells as shiny and damage-free as possible.

Barefoot Beach State Preserve is one of the top rated beaches in the United States and encompasses more than 340 acres of land. One of southwest coastal Florida's last undeveloped barrier islands, the preserve is home to many different animals, such as various species of sea turtles and the gopher tortoise. While the white sand at Barefoot Beach Preserve is soft, it's advised for visitors to wear shoes due to the plentiful shells that can be sharp. In addition to the natural beach, the park also consists of estuary waters for kayaking and canoe tours and a boardwalk nature trail.

505 Barefoot Beach Blvd, Bonita Springs, FL

While Amelia Island is only around thirty miles from Jacksonville, it feels worlds apart. Horseback riding is possible at the Amelia Island State Park beach at the south end, while beachcombers can find shells and shark’s teeth at Fort Clinch. Families often head to Main Beach for its beach dining, oceanfront miniature golf, pristine beaches, and more. Main Beach also provides handicap access, as well as beach wheelchairs. The picture-perfect quartz-sand beaches of Amelia Island are the result of meticulously enforced regulations that keep them picturesque for visitors. It's also possible to see an osprey, dolphins, and possibly even a whale.