A Sand Dollar boat tour running the Ten Thousand Islands near Marco Island, Florida

Near Your Stay

Boat Tours Near Marco Island Lakeside Inn

You picked the easy-going, lake-side corner of Marco Island — and it turns out you also picked one of the closest beds to our dock. From the Marco Island Lakeside Inn it’s only about a 12–15 minute drive south to Goodland, where our boat is waiting to run you out into the Ten Thousand Islands.

San Marco Marina, Goodland
1.5–2 hour cruises
All ages welcome
USCG Master Captains

Check Availability & Book (239) 301-8913

Nearest dockSan Marco Marina, Goodland

From the propertyabout a 12–15 min drive

WaterTen Thousand Islands + Gulf

You may seedolphins, shells, backwater fish (no guarantees)

Why This Stay Works

A central Marco base, minutes from the boat

The Marco Island Lakeside Inn sits right on the island’s freshwater lake at 155 1st Avenue — a small, boutique inn with a friendly, low-key feel and a genuinely central Marco address. It’s the kind of place value-minded travelers pick when they’d rather spend their money on the water than on the room, and it puts you within easy reach of the beach, the shops and the south end of the island. We’re not affiliated with the inn in any way — we simply end up hosting a lot of its guests, because from this side of Marco our Goodland dock is about as close as a boat trip gets. Plenty of folks book a sensible room here and then put the savings toward an extra hour on the water or a private run out to the islands.

Getting to us is simple. Point your map app at San Marco Marina, 604 E Palm Avenue in Goodland, and you’ll trace Collier Boulevard and San Marco Road down to the little stilt-house fishing village on Marco’s southeast tip — roughly a 12 to 15 minute drive, though you should always check the live time from your own door. Goodland is the head start into the Ten Thousand Islands: a maze of mangrove keys, oyster bars and wild, boat-only beaches that most Marco visitors never actually reach. Coon Key Light marks the mouth, stone-crab boats work the channels, and the water quickly opens into a horizon of green keys. Leaving from here means less time crossing open water and more time where the shells, dolphins and backwater fish actually are.

What you don’t give up by staying somewhere sensible is the real thing. These are the same USCG Master Captain-led trips we run for everyone: honest, unhurried, all-ages, and built around whatever the tide is doing that morning. You can comb a barrier island like Kice or Keewaydin for empty shells, look for bottlenose dolphins along the Marco River, glide past the toppled dome-house ruins off Cape Romano, or work the mangrove edges with light tackle. Shelling is a year-round game here — winter mornings bring the big negative low tides, summer trades them for evening lows — and the horse conch, Florida’s state shell, is the prize everyone hopes to flip over. Nothing out here is promised, because wild animals keep their own schedule, but a value-friendly room and a short hop to Goodland is a smart way to get more of Southwest Florida’s wildest water for your money.

Roughly a 12–15 minute drive to our Goodland dock
Central Marco address — beach, shops and the south end close by
The same all-ages, captain-led trips we run for every guest
Empty shells only — Collier County keeps its beaches wild

Check Availability

A wild mangrove island in the Ten Thousand Islands near Marco Island, Florida — ⚓ The Ten Thousand Islands begin just past Goodland.

Trips That Fit

The tours that fit a Lakeside Inn stay

Value-minded, but every bit the real wild-water experience — here’s where we’d start.

Shelling TourRide out to a boat-only island and comb the wrack line for empty horse conchs, whelks and olives. From $125 per adult and $90 per child. Dolphin TourWatch for wild bottlenose dolphins arcing along the Marco River and the island passes. Often playful, never guaranteed. Fishing CharterLight-tackle backwater fishing in the mangrove creeks for snook, redfish and trout; our vessel license covers everyone aboard. Beach & Island TourGet dropped on the soft, uncrowded sand of a barrier island like Keewaydin or Kice — reachable only by boat. Sunset CruiseCruise the islands as the Gulf goes gold and pink. An easy, all-ages way to close out a Marco day. Private CharterBook the whole boat for your crew and shape the run around exactly what your group wants to see.

Dock Directions

Getting from the Lakeside Inn to the water

A quick, honest walk-through from your room to the bow.

Leaving the inn

You’re starting from 155 1st Avenue, on the freshwater lake near the middle of Marco Island. That central spot is the whole advantage here: you’re close to the beach and the shops, and you’re a short, straight shot from the south end of the island where the boats run. Grab your sunglasses, a hat and reef-safe sunscreen, and give yourself a few extra minutes so the drive feels relaxed rather than rushed. Mornings are the classic call for shelling and glassy water, so an early trip pairs nicely with a quick breakfast before you head out. There’s no hotel-lobby pickup — you’ll meet us right at the marina.

The drive to Goodland

Head for San Marco Marina at 604 E Palm Avenue, Goodland. From the Lakeside Inn it’s roughly a 12 to 15 minute drive south and east — down Collier Boulevard and out San Marco Road to the little fishing village on Marco’s southeast tip. You’ll cross the Goodland Bridge over the Marco River right before town, which is a good sign you’re only a couple of minutes out. Always check the live drive time in your own map app before you leave, since traffic and the season shift it. Prefer not to drive? A rideshare from this part of Marco is quick and easy, and plenty of our guests simply grab one.

Finding the dock

Goodland is tiny, so the marina is easy to find once you roll into town — follow the water and the smell of stone crab. San Marco Marina is a working Goodland dock, not a resort pier, and that’s exactly why we love it: it drops you straight into the back bays. The village is known for its stone-crab shacks and its easygoing Sunday buzz, so it’s a fun place to grab a bite before or after your run. Arrive about 15 minutes early so you can park, find the boat and meet your captain without hurrying. If you ever can’t spot us, call the crew at (239) 301-8913 and we’ll wave you in.

What to bring

Pack light and smart: sunglasses, a hat, reef-safe sunscreen, a light layer if there’s a breeze, and water. Closed-toe or secure sandals help if you’re shelling on an oyster-flecked island. Bring a bag for any empty shells you keep — in Collier County it’s empty shells only, so leave anything with a living animal inside right where it sits. If it’s a cool month, toss in a windbreaker, because the ride out feels brisker than the sunny dock. A phone or camera on a strap is plenty; you don’t need to haul gear. If you’re fishing with us, rods, tackle and the license are already handled aboard.

Parking in Goodland

Parking in Goodland is simple and low-key — there’s room near the marina, and the crew will point you to the right spot when you call ahead or arrive. It’s a small village, so you won’t be circling for a space the way you might at a busy in-town beach lot. Because you’re not fighting the beach-town crowds, the whole arrival tends to feel calm even in high season. Leave anything valuable out of sight in the car, take your keys and phone, and you’re set. It’s one more quiet perk of leaving from Goodland instead of a crowded marina.

Casting off

Once everyone’s aboard and the safety rundown is done, we idle out of the canal and open up into the Ten Thousand Islands. Depending on your trip and the tide, that might mean a barrier-island beach, a shelling flat, the dolphin water along the Marco River, or a quiet mangrove creek for fishing. On a cool-season morning you might even catch a manatee nosing through the creeks near Rookery Bay; in the warmer months the dolphin action along the river tends to pick up. Trips generally run about an hour and a half to two hours on the water. Your captain reads the day and points the bow at wherever the odds look best — then you just enjoy the ride.

Who It Suits

A great fit if you’re…

The Lakeside Inn draws a certain kind of traveler — here’s who has the best day with us.

Value-minded explorers

You’d rather spend on the experience than the room — and a short drive to Goodland stretches every dollar.

Families

All-ages trips, calm back-bay water and a captain who narrates the whole ride — easy for kids and grandparents alike.

First-time shellers

Never found a wild shell before? The boat-only islands off Goodland are the honest place to start.

Do-it-your-own-way travelers

You booked a central, low-key base on purpose — you’ll like picking the exact trip that fits your day.

On the Water

What’s waiting past Goodland

A quick look at the shells, beaches and backwater a short drive puts within reach.

A remote, boat-only sand island seen across the shallow green Gulf near Marco Island, Florida — Empty shells only — Collier County keeps it that way.

A quiet boat-only barrier-island beach in the Ten Thousand Islands near Marco Island — Soft, uncrowded sand you can only reach by boat.

A backwater fish caught on light tackle near Marco Island, Florida — Light-tackle backwater fishing in the island creeks.

Keep Planning

More ways to plan your trip

Nearby stays, the departure village and every property we serve.

Olde Marco Island InnAnother Marco stay we love hosting guests from — see the plan for that end of the island. Boat House MotelA waterfront Marco base with the same short run down to our Goodland dock. Goodland, FloridaMeet the tiny fishing village where every one of these trips begins. All Stays We ServeBrowse boat tours near every Marco Island and Naples hotel on our list.

Good to Know

Boat tours near Marco Island Lakeside Inn

The practical questions Lakeside Inn guests ask before they book.

How far is the dock from Marco Island Lakeside Inn?

Our boats leave from San Marco Marina at 604 E Palm Avenue in Goodland, on the southeast tip of Marco Island. From the Lakeside Inn at 155 1st Avenue it’s roughly a 12 to 15 minute drive south — one of the shorter hops to our dock from anywhere on the island. There’s no toll and the route down Collier Boulevard is straightforward, so it’s an easy drive even if you don’t know the area. Traffic and the season shift it a little, so check the live time in your own map app the morning of your trip, or grab a rideshare if you’d rather not drive.

Do you pick up at the hotel?

We don’t — and we’re not affiliated with the inn, so there’s no shuttle arrangement. Every trip departs from the marina in Goodland, and you’ll meet your captain right at the boat. The upside is that leaving from a working dock on the back bays means far less open-water crossing to reach the shelling flats and islands. Rides over to Goodland are short and inexpensive from central Marco, and the crew can point you to the easiest drop-off at the marina if you text ahead. Plan to arrive about 15 minutes before your departure so there’s time to park and get settled.

Which tour should we pick from here?

It depends on what you’re after. If you want to bring something home, our shelling tour lands you on a wild island to hunt empty shells. Hoping for wildlife? The dolphin tour works the Marco River and the island passes. Anglers do best on a light-tackle backwater trip, and anyone who just wants soft sand should look at the beach and island run or a sunset cruise. Shelling and beach trips are the most kid-proof, while fishing is the most hands-on. If you only have time for one outing and want a little of everything, a private charter lets us fold some shelling, some wildlife and a beach stop into a single run shaped around your group.

Are dolphin or shell sightings guaranteed?

No — and any captain who promises otherwise isn’t being straight with you. These are wild animals and wild beaches on their own schedule, so we talk in terms of a great chance, not a sure thing. That said, the water off Goodland is genuinely rich: bottlenose dolphins live out here year-round, and the boat-only islands see far less foot traffic than the in-town beaches. We go where the tide and the season put the best odds and read the day as we run it.

Is this a good option if we’re watching our budget?

That’s exactly who this stay suits. A central, boutique inn on the lake keeps your room cost sensible, and the short drive to Goodland means you’re spending on the experience rather than a pricey in-town marina. Our shelling tour starts at $125 per adult and $90 per child; the other trips are quoted when you book, so you can match the outing to your budget. The child rate makes the shelling trip especially family-friendly, and because the drive is so short you’re not burning a half-day just getting to the boat. Call us at (239) 301-8913 and we’ll help you pick the trip that gives your family the most water for the money.

What should we bring, and can we keep the shells we find?

Bring sunglasses, a hat, reef-safe sunscreen, water and a light layer for the breeze; secure sandals help on the islands. You’re welcome to keep the empty shells you find — but only empty ones. Collier County law is empty shells only, so anything still holding a living animal, plus live sand dollars and sea stars, goes right back where you found it. It keeps these islands wild for the next boat. Serious shellers always ask about the junonia, the deep-water holy grail that only washes ashore after a storm; they do turn up out here, though finding one is pure luck. If you’re fishing, rods, tackle and the vessel license are all covered aboard.

Reserve Your Seats

Ready when you are, just up the road in Goodland

Check dates and lock in your spot — the wild islands are a short drive from your door.

Or call (239) 301-8913

Set Sail

Your Marco stay is minutes from the wild islands

You picked a smart, central base — now put it to work. Pick a trip, and our USCG Master Captains will show you the Ten Thousand Islands the way locals know them.

Book a Boat Tour (239) 301-8913

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