Bike Naples Like a Local

The Naples Best Bike Route

If you want to actually see Naples instead of riding down one road and turning around, make a morning out of it.

Our favorite route combines the Gordon River Greenway, Baker Park, Old Naples, Fifth Avenue South, Third Street South, the beach, and Gulf Shore Boulevard . You get a little bit of everything Naples is known for: nature, beautiful neighborhoods, downtown, the Gulf, and some pretty incredible homes.

When to Go

Best time: 7:00–9:30 a.m.

Naples gets hot quickly, especially from late spring through early fall. Starting early also means fewer cars and pedestrians once you reach downtown.

During winter and spring, mornings can be absolutely perfect for riding.

If you’re doing an evening ride instead, try to time the beach portion of the route for roughly 30 minutes before sunset.

Where to Start

A great starting point is Baker Park or one of the entrances to the Gordon River Greenway .

The Greenway itself stretches for more than two miles and includes paved paths and elevated boardwalks through native vegetation. One convenient entrance is off Golden Gate Parkway. Another access point is reached through the Naples Zoo entrance area.

From the Greenway, work your way toward Baker Park and then continue toward downtown.

The Route

Gordon River Greenway → Baker Park → Downtown Naples → Fifth Avenue South → Third Street South → Naples Beach → Gulf Shore Boulevard → Lowdermilk Park

Don’t treat this like a race.

The whole point is to stop.

Walk your bike down Fifth if it’s busy. Grab coffee. Ride through the quieter streets of Old Naples. Head toward the water around Third Street South and then ride north toward Lowdermilk.

The Part Most Visitors Miss

Don’t spend the entire ride on the busiest roads.

Some of the best riding is simply wandering through Old Naples between Fifth Avenue South and the Gulf . You’ll pass tropical landscaping, quiet residential streets, older Naples homes mixed with incredible new construction, and little beach accesses at the ends of streets.

That’s the Naples you don’t really experience from inside a car.

Naples Best Tips

Go early. The difference between riding Naples at 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. can be huge.

Bring water even if you’re only planning an hour. The humidity sneaks up on you.

Bring a bike lock. This route is much better when you can stop for coffee, breakfast, shopping, or the beach.

Watch the afternoon weather in summer. A beautiful summer morning can turn into a thunderstorm later in the day.

Don’t rush the Greenway. Slow down on the boardwalk sections and look into the water and mangroves. Wildlife is much easier to spot when you’re not flying past it.