Lee County, FL · Gulf of Mexico

Sanibel Island Beach

The shelling capital of the world — Sanibel's east-west orientation collects shells from the Gulf onto every tide. The "Sanibel Stoop" is a real local affliction. Bike-friendly across the entire island, J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge covers 6,400 acres of mangrove and bay habitat.

Eats & Drinks 3

Today's Conditions

Ideal for swimming.

78°F water · 81°F air

Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon

Sunny, with a high near 81. West northwest wind 6 to 14 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 70. North wind 10 to 14 mph.

Weather

81°F air — ideal beach weather
Sunny skies — clear conditions

Water

78°F water — warm — full-day swim weather

82 /100

great

91 Swim

81 Sunbathe

86 Walk

75 Fish

82 Photo

Best for swimming today

Water level 1.0 ft above predicted

Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.

NOAA station 8725520 · Observed 1.84 ft · Predicted 0.81 ft

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Atmosphere

Air Temp

81°F

Partly Cloudy

Wind

6 to 14 mph

WNW

Rain

This Afternoon

Air Quality

29 Good

Ozone · Fort Myers

UV Peak

6 High

High 12 PM–01 PM · burn in ~33m

Burn-free before 09 AM & after 04 PM

Tomorrow

81°F

Sunny

Water

Water Temp

78°F

Swimming weather

Next Low Tide

7:52 PM

0.6 ft · in 1.3h

Wave Height

1.6 ft

4s · NW swell

Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference

No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (GMZ836)

The TBW office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.

FLZ139 Coastal Levy-Coastal Citrus-Coastal Hernando-Coastal Pasco — Cedar Key, Yankeetown, Crystal River, n/a
FLZ050 Pinellas-Coastal Hillsborough-Coastal Manatee-Coastal Sarasota — Clearwater Beach, Saint Pete Beach, n/a
FLZ162 Coastal Charlotte-Coastal Lee — Manasota Key, Palm Island, Captiva, Sanibel, n/a

NWS SRF · TBW · Issued Nov 7, 2:33 AM

Sun & Moon

Sunrise

6:41 AM

Sunset

5:42 PM

Moon · 5%

Waning Crescent

Spring tides — bigger range

Tides

Time	Type	Height
1:41 AM	High	1.5 ft
9:06 AM	Low	0.2 ft
2:53 PM	High	1.0 ft
7:52 PM	Low	0.6 ft

Time	Type	Height
2:05 AM	High	1.6 ft
9:57 AM	Low	0.1 ft
3:41 PM	High	0.9 ft
8:12 PM	Low	0.6 ft

Time	Type	Height
2:26 AM	High	1.6 ft
10:45 AM	Low	0.1 ft
4:32 PM	High	0.9 ft
8:34 PM	Low	0.7 ft

Time	Type	Height
2:47 AM	High	1.7 ft
11:29 AM	Low	0.1 ft
5:25 PM	High	0.8 ft
9:01 PM	Low	0.7 ft

Time	Type	Height
3:12 AM	High	1.7 ft
12:10 PM	Low	0.1 ft
6:20 PM	High	0.8 ft
9:39 PM	Low	0.7 ft

Time	Type	Height
3:42 AM	High	1.6 ft
12:49 PM	Low	0.0 ft
7:15 PM	High	0.8 ft
10:30 PM	Low	0.7 ft

Time	Type	Height
4:19 AM	High	1.5 ft
1:29 PM	Low	0.1 ft
8:08 PM	High	0.8 ft
11:34 PM	Low	0.7 ft

High/low predictions from NOAA station 8725520, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.

7-Day Beach Day Forecast

Today Nov 7

81°

Sunny

Sun Nov 8

81°

Sunny

Mon Nov 9

81°

Sunny

Tue Nov 10

81°

Mostly Sunny

Wed Nov 11

80°

Partly Sunny

Thu Nov 12

79°

Scattered Rain Showers

39%

Fri Nov 13

75°

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

46%

What to Bring Today

recommended SPF 30 sunscreen UV index 6 — high
recommended Sturdy umbrella + sand anchor 6 to 14 mph wind
optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 78°F

Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).

Best Fishing Times Today

Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.

Major

9:30 PM - 11:30 PM

Minor

4:50 AM - 5:50 AM

Major

9:50 AM - 11:50 AM

Minor

4:10 PM - 5:10 PM

Beach Info

Parking

Paid public lots at Bowman's Beach, Lighthouse Beach, Tarpon Bay Beach, and Gulfside City Park. Cash or app.

Dogs

Dogs allowed leashed on most Sanibel beaches.

Entry Fee

Free

Address

110 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957

Amenities

restroomsshowersbike rentalswildlife refuge

Frequently Asked

Is it safe to swim at Sanibel Island Beach today?

Sanibel Island Beach shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. No lifeguards are on duty, so check the day's conditions and swim with caution. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.

Is Sanibel Island Beach dog-friendly?

Dogs allowed leashed on most Sanibel beaches.

Is there an entry fee at Sanibel Island Beach?

Entry to Sanibel Island Beach is free.

Are there lifeguards at Sanibel Island Beach?

No lifeguards are stationed at Sanibel Island Beach. Swim at your own risk and keep close watch on children.

What amenities are at Sanibel Island Beach?

Amenities at Sanibel Island Beach include restrooms, showers, bike rentals, wildlife refuge.

When is the water warmest at Sanibel Island Beach?

The Gulf of Mexico is bathwater-warm by mid-summer — 84-88°F is typical from July through September on the FL Gulf, TX coast, and AL/MS coast. Swimming comfortable from April through October on most of the Gulf.

Where is Sanibel Island Beach located?

Sanibel Island Beach is in Lee County, FL, at 110 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957.