Bonita Springs to Fort Myers drive: Distance, time & attractions
The distance from Bonita Springs to Fort Myers by car is 23 miles, with a 35m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Bonita Springs to Fort Myers driver are Koreshan State Park, the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve and the Winter Estates.
Finding things to do between Bonita Springs and Fort Myers
The drive from Bonita Springs to Fort Myers links two of the most appealing spots on the southern section of Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Linking Estero Bay and the Gulf of Mexico to the Everglades, Bonita Springs has miles of easy-going hiking and biking trails. You can also glide through the canals in a canoe.
Dune buggy rentals are a fun way to explore, as are guided kayak tours.
Bonita Springs is also a golf paradise, with 23 golf courses within the boundaries. One is beside the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and spa, a lavish property with 26 acres of tropical gardens. It offers a water taxi to its own private beach and a water park with a lazy river.
There’s a massive collection of Fort Myers experiences to choose from. Top picks include paddleboarding with dolphins and manatees, sunset sailing cruises and haunted history walks.
For a night out the buzzy bars and restaurants of the River District are full of energy, while the Georgian Revival-style Burroughs Home and Gardens does the grand mansion thing.
Great Fort Myers hotel options include the brilliantly-located Luminary Hotel and Margaritaville Beach Resort.
Bonita Springs to Fort Myers distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Bonita Springs to Fort Myers is 23 miles. You can expect a driving time of around 35 minutes.
The best stops to add to a Bonita Springs to Fort Myers road trip itinerary are Koreshan State Park, the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve and the Winter Estates.
Bonita Springs to Fort Myers drive: Koreshan State Park
Many of the usual state park staples are available at Koreshan State Park. You can go hiking, kayaking, camping and wildlife viewing.
The unusual twist is that this site on the Estero River was once home to a strange religious sect. The Koreshans set up a celibate, communal living experiment under the oak trees back in 1893. They managed to get a farm and botanical gardens running, and eleven of the original buildings are still intact. The buildings are open to visitors.
Best stops between Bonita Springs and Fort Myers: Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
The Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve conserves more than 3,500 acres of wetland. It is home to turtles, wading birds, alligators and otters, some of which you’ll be able to see on the boardwalk walking trail.
The preserve also has an Interpretive Center, which explains how the slough gathers and filters the rainwater heading into Estero Bay.
Bonita Springs to Fort Myers road trip attractions: The Winter Estates
When Thomas Edison first visited the Fort Myers area in 1885, he built himself a winter home. The Edison estate, along with that of his Fort Myers neighbour Henry Ford, is now a riveting museum complex.
Inside the Winter Estates are stories of the inventors that changed America going on wild adventures. There are also exhibits about what makes the ecosystems around Fort Myers so special, plus impeccably-maintained gardens.
