Sea Turtle Nesting Season in Naples
From May to October, Naples beaches turn into a nursery. Here's when loggerheads nest, where to look, and how to enjoy a summer beach day without harming a single turtle.
Updated June 2026
For about half the year, the same quiet beaches we love for sunsets do double duty as a nursery. From late spring into fall, female loggerheads haul themselves out of the Gulf after dark, dig a nest above the tide line and lay a clutch of eggs before slipping back to sea. Naples sits right in the middle of one of Southwest Florida's busiest nesting stretches, and if you visit in summer you're sharing the sand with them whether you notice or not.
This is a guide to seeing that magic responsibly: when the season runs, where the nests are, the simple "lights out" rules that keep hatchlings alive, and how to enjoy a summer beach day without harming a single turtle. It pairs naturally with our Naples in July notes and the wider Beaches & Outdoors guide.
When it all happens
Officially May 1 to October 31, but the rhythm shifts month to month.
How to help, not harm
The rules are simple, and following them genuinely saves turtles. Artificial light is the single biggest danger.
A turtle-friendly summer day
- Spend the day on the sand as usual, then before you leave, fill your holes, flatten castles and pack out every chair and umbrella.
- Walk the beach at dawn or dusk and look for fresh crawl tracks and the stakes-and-tape of a marked nest, which is the closest most visitors get to the action.
- After dark, keep lights off on the beach and close beachfront blinds at the rental.
- If you cross paths with a turtle, keep your distance, stay quiet and skip the flash photo; just watch.
- Save the wildlife hotline, FWC 888-404-3922, in case you find a turtle in trouble.
Where to go next
The wilder, quieter beaches tend to be the best for nesting season.
Barefoot Beach
One of the area's most natural preserves, and where Collier County's first 2026 nest turned up.
Vanderbilt Beach
A long, monitored nesting stretch in North Naples that's lovely for sunset walks all summer.
Naples in July
Hot, green and quiet, right in the heart of nesting season; here's what a July visit is really like.
Beaches & Outdoors
Every Naples beach, plus shelling, dolphin cruises and the mangroves, in one guide.
Find a place to stay nearby
Common questions
When is sea turtle nesting season in Naples?
Nesting season officially runs May 1 through October 31, although the first nests sometimes appear in late April. Nesting by adult females peaks in June and July, and hatchlings emerge from about August into October, so summer visitors are on the beach right alongside the action.
Where can I see sea turtles in Naples?
Turtles nest along most local Gulf beaches, including Barefoot Beach, Vanderbilt Beach, Park Shore and the City of Naples shoreline. The quieter, more natural beaches like Barefoot tend to see the most activity. You're most likely to spot fresh crawl tracks or a marked nest on an early-morning walk in summer.
Can I watch a sea turtle nest or hatch?
Possibly, but it's never guaranteed. Turtles come ashore on their own unpredictable schedule, almost always after dark, and Naples does not run public guided night turtle walks like some Atlantic-coast towns. Your best chance is simply being on a quiet, dark beach at dawn or dusk in summer. If you do see one, keep your distance and stay quiet.
What are the lights-out rules for sea turtle season?
Naples and Collier County enforce a beachfront lighting ordinance through the season, with lights visible from the beach turned off or shielded from roughly 9 p.m. to sunrise. On the sand at night, use no flashlights, lanterns, camera flash or phone lights, since bright white light disorients both nesting females and hatchlings. Close beachfront blinds after dark.
How can I help protect sea turtles on the beach?
Before you leave, fill in any holes you dug, knock down sandcastles and pack out all chairs, umbrellas and toys, since these trap crawling turtles. Keep the beach dark at night, never touch or get between a turtle and the water, and don't disturb marked nests. To report an injured, stranded or harassed turtle, call the FWC wildlife hotline at 888-404-3922.
Is summer a good time to visit Naples beaches?
Yes, if you don't mind heat, humidity and afternoon storms. Summer is the quietest, greenest and most affordable season, and being here during nesting season is a quiet privilege. Just follow the turtle-friendly rules. See our Naples in July guide for a fuller picture of a summer visit.