Great Runs in Naples & Fort Myers, FL
Located in Southwest Florida, Naples is a place bordered by the gentle waters of the Gulf of Mexico to the west, and the Everglades to the south. It’s part of the Paradise Coast, which includes Marco Island, Everglades City, Immokalee and Ave Maria. It is 100 miles due west of Fort Lauderdale. Naples is well known for its high-end shopping, world-class culture and sophisticated dining, but it also appeals to nature lovers and beach aficionados. Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South are the focal points for Naples shopping in the historic downtown area, with numerous art galleries, chic clothing boutiques and home decor shops.
The best running near downtown Naples is along Gulf Shore Boulevard and Gordon Road, with views of the water, and some of Naples’ loveliest hotels and homes. Just north of downtown, there are some neat boardwalk and trail runs through Everglades-like foliage, along the Gordon River Greenway and Freedom Park. Still further north, the Pelican Blvd./Artis arts center are terrific, as are nearby Clam Shell Park and the Delnor-Wiggins Nature Trail. 25 miles north is the Bird Rookery Swamp hiking and biking trails. South of Naples, there is fantastic running on tony and bucolic Marco Island.
The beaches of Naples in particular are sloped, so they’re not an easy run. The key for a beach run is going at low tide, and running at the edge of the surf, where the sand is compact and most level.
Climate
Naples has a subtropical climate, with temperate and generally dry weather from the late fall through late spring and hotter and more humid weather in the summer through early fall with typical tropical thunderstorms in the late afternoon giving way to beautiful sunsets. Summers are hot, humid, and wet with high temps often above 90F and rarely dipping below 70F. One must take caution when running in summer. Winter weather is delightful, but cooler than southern Florida. Average winter highs are in the 70s and lows in the 50s.
Iconic Routes:
- Gordon River Greenway
- Gulf Shore Boulevard
- Pelican Bay Neighborhood
- Clam Pass Boardwalk
- Marco Island/Estates Neighborhood
- Bird Rookery Swamp Trail
- Delnor-Wiggins Nature Trail
Gulf Shore Boulevard
9.5 miles round trip Parking: Lowdermilk Park. [MAP]
This is the best beachside running in the heart of Naples. Starting at Lowedermilk Park, and running south along Gulf Shore Drive and Gordon Drive, it is about 4.5 miles one way. Lowdermilk Park offers 1,000 feet of pristine beachfront and plenty of picnic tables for relaxing after a long run! Lowdermilk Beach Park is also a popular beach for watching the sunset.
The abundance of trees lining Gulf Shore Boulevard from Lowdermilk Park to the end of Gordon Drive and back offers shade to runners. This 9.5 mile round trip is a favorite path in Naples, especially during summer’s heat. It’s also popular among runners because they can share the asphalt bike lane with cyclists, which isn’t as hard on the knees as the concrete road. Another favorite part are the fancy homes surrounded by the palms and other flora along the path.
Gordon River Greenway
3.5 miles round trip. Start and Parking: Naples Zoo [Trail Map]. MAP
Combine with Freedom Park, to the north
The paths and boardwalk around the Gordon River are like taking a run through the Everglades. The Gordon River Greenway offers an easy and convenient taste of Florida wildlife, through a 126-acre natural area in the heart of Naples. It’s 2 miles from downtown and just north of the airport. The first phase of the pathway opened in 2014 and the pavement is smooth and 12 feet wide and runs 1.5 miles, winding through a mixture of palm trees, pine flatwoods, and scrubland. The trail is interspersed with elevated boardwalk sections over wetlands, where you can watch for birds, tortoises, and other wildlife. Bump-outs on bridge crossings over the Gordon River provide spots to pause and enjoy the views.
Start at Gordon River Greenway Park, just south of the zoo. There are a couple of options here: head easy for 0.2 miles and then at an intersection, take a left for an 0.3 mile spur. Return to the junction point and then head another 0.1 miles to the end, and a junction with a north-south boardwalk section. Turn left to head north to the end, another 0.3 miles. The main north-south Gordon River Greenway Path is 1.2 miles. With all the spurs, it’s a 3.5 mile run.
If you would like to add to this 3 mile RT run, Freedom Park has about 2 miles of pedestrian-only trails, mainly a boardwalk going over a swampy area.
Freedom Park
2 miles of boardwalk trails. Pedestrian only. Parking.
This is a great add-on to the Gordon River Greenway. It’s just to the north of the Greenway. There are about 2 miles of pedestrian-only trails, mainly a boardwalk going over a swampy area. The park is dedicated to Veterans, and had a nice plaque at the entrance.
Pelican Bay
6 miles out and back Parking: Artis — Naples. [MAP]
A run along Pelican Bay Blvd., 7 miles north of downtown Naples, is a great way to experience the waterfront, lovely foliage, and gorgeous Florida homes. It is sidewalked, along a wide street, and a favorite of local running groups. Experience an interesting array of architecture, white sandy beaches, and a backdrop of native Florida mangroves along three miles of the Gulf of Mexico in the northwestern section of Naples. Pelican Bay is home to a private golf & beach community and is the only neighborhood in Naples with beach-side dining.
A good place to start the run is at Artis — southwest Florida’s home for the visual and performing arts. It has become a landmark within the community and offers a multitude of events throughout the year, plus free parking on campus!
Clam Pass Boardwalk
1.5 miles out-and-back Parking: Clam Pass Park (with visitor sticker). [Park Map]. Can be combined with Pelican Bay.
Located in the North Naples area, Clam Pass Park is one of the most popular beach access points. The boardwalk is perfect for those who love a tranquil, nature-filled experience. It runs through a mangrove forest of salt-tolerant red, white and black mangroves. It also has a tidal bay area that acts as a breeding ground and nursery for marine life. It’s best to run at a low-key point in the day, as it can get crowded with families heading to and from the beach in the mornings and late afternoon. The boardwalk is about three quarters of a mile long, perfect for a quick out-and-back on a hot day!
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
~1 mile on boardwalk, + 2 miles on the beach. [Trail Map]
The breezy shores of Delnor-Wiggins State Park, 12 miles north of Naples, entice thousands of beachgoers on summer days . The Observation Tower Trail at Delnor-Wiggins is a 0.3-mile boardwalk through a tangled coastal tropical forest. Start near the picnic pavilion, then take the boardwalk, which winds its way through the dense woods. It leads you to a tower from which you get a sweeping view of Wiggins Pass and the Gulf of Mexico, with lots of mangroves way down below. The entire trail is 0.8 miles one way.
To add some distance: you can continue the full length of the beach up to the south end of the park and back, which will add 2 more miles to your exploration of this shoreline.
Marco Island
Route of Marco Hill 5k [Course Map]
Hill running in Florida? One of the loveliest spots in southwest Florida is Marco Island, a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico linked to the mainland by bridges about 17 miles south of Naples. This small island is only 6 miles by 4 miles, and is the northernmost island of the Ten Thousand Islands chain that stretches south through Everglades City to Flamingo and the Florida Keys. It has been described as magical, mystical and alluring.
We’ve provided the map of the Marco Hill 5k Run, one of the toughest courses in southwest Florida, with 17 hills! The course features stunning homes and great views, including a well-known area called The Estates area is amazing.
Bird Rookery Swamp Trail
12 miles of trails. Parking: 1295 Shady Hollow Blvd. off Immokalee Road
The Bird Rookery Swamp Trail is 25 miles north of Naples, and offers 12 miles of hiking and biking trails. A 1/4-mile crushed shell path leads to a 1500-ft. boardwalk, then the trails become ground level, sandy/grassy, relatively flat berms with swamp on both sides. The trails are actually old tram roads used when the area was logged many years ago. Most of the trail is lined with forested wetland dominated by bald cypress and red maples trees.
Those who want a shorter run can adjust to desired distance with the full set of Map of Trails. This trail is one of three Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed (CREW) projects, which are owned and managed by the South Florida Water Management District.
Stay
For access to good running without getting in a car, try to stay at one of the hotels along the strip running from Pelican Bay in the north down to Royal Harbor on Naples Bay, to the west of Rt. 41 (Tamiami Trail). This provides access to running om the beach and Gordon Drive, and Pelican Bay Blvd. North Naples features hotels of greater budget range, in the Village on Venetian Bay and Artis Museum area.
There are comfy lodgings within the walkable downtown, such as The Inn on Fifth and the Trianon Old Naples. For a romantic getaway, try the Lemon Tree Inn, a boutique hotel with an Old Florida vibe, where guest rooms are decorated in a tropical contemporary motif and feature all modern amenities.
There is a large number of hotels on Marco Island. Marco Island Lakeside Inn, the quiet choice on the island. The Mariner is a great choice for families with its large suites.
List of specific places to stay here.
Running Stores:
Naples on the Run: Has been servicing the Naples running and walking community for over 20 years. They pride themselves on their customer service and fitting their customers with the best shoe. Stop in for a free gait analysis, which enables them to properly fit you with the perfect shoe. Test it out on their treadmill too!
Fit 2 Run: Fit2Run is a family owned company that prides itself on its strong community involvement and makes strides to empower athletes of all fitness levels to embrace a more active lifestyle. Voted “Best Running Shop” in the Southeast by Competitor Magazine readers. They have free weekly fun runs with themed nights, parties, clinics, nutrition samplings and more, and Train2Run training programs. Programs for all levels are available. Group and training run calendar. Group runs, Tuesday and Thursday 6:30 pm from store.
Group Runs/Community:
Gulf Coast Runners:
Annual membership fee: $25 for an individual; $35 for a family; and $15 for students and youths up to age 22
GCR hosts 21 races a year in Naples, including the Naples Daily News Half Marathon. It offers training for beginning runners and has developed three popular routes for all levels of runners. The group meets three times a week, year round, for a run, unless there is a local race. Find a full list of their group meet times and more on their social calendar.
Events:
Naples area running event calendar.
Naples Daily News Half Marathon: January. Course Map The course is USATF certified and begins on 5th Avenue South and returns to Cambier Park. Run along a fast and very flat out-and-back course through the area known to locals as the “Olde Naples” section of town. This course takes runners through the city streets, residential neighborhoods and waterfront districts. One of the race’s really interesting and unique traditions takes place along the stretch on Galleon Drive, where a clergyman at Trinity-by-the-Cove Episcopal Church blesses the runners passing by (all runners pass by the church twice during the race) with holy water, which has become a landmark many runners look forward to in the race each year.
Paradise Coast Half Marathon: Naples, Florida is home to some of the most beautiful beaches, fine dining, high end fashion shops and is a prime destination for a half marathon and 5k. The race course will take you past some of the most beautiful natural scenery, luxurious homes, and friendly fans cheering you on along the way. Starting and finishing at the Florida Sports Club, the race takes runners through Naples and nearby Lely Resort. With the number of celebrities and public figures who call Naples home at least part of the time, who knows: you might spot a celebrity or two on the course. Racers finish on Victory Lane of the “World Famous Swamp Buggy Races” track.
