Fort Lauderdale to Fort Myers: Distance, drive time & best stops
The best stops on a Fort Lauderdale to Fort Myers road trip are Sawgrass Recreation Park, Naples and Koreshan State Park. By car, the distance from Fort Lauderdale to Fort Myers is 141 miles, with a driving time of 2h9m.
Planning a Fort Lauderdale to Fort Myers road trip itinerary
The drive from Fort Lauderdale to Fort Myers takes you from the east coast of Florida to the west coast – and connects two holiday cities with a very different feel.
Fort Lauderdale is a sleek coastal city of beaches and canals. For Fort Lauderdale experiences, try narrated 90 minute cruises on the Jungle Queen, Everglades airboat adventures and snorkelling tours on the Fort Lauderdale reefs.
Alternatively, try an evening boat cruise, renting a powerboat or parasailing.
Great beachfront Fort Lauderdale accommodation options include the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and the Hotel Maren.
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.
Fort Lauderdale to Fort Myers distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Fort Lauderdale to Fort Myers is 141 miles. That makes for a driving time of around two hours and nine minutes.
The Fort Lauderdale to Fort Myers drive is almost entirely along the I-75. Much of the journey is through the Everglades.
The best stops between Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers are Sawgrass Recreation Park, Naples and Koreshan State Park.
Fort Lauderdale to Fort Myers road trip attractions: Sawgrass Recreation Park
On the outskirts of Fort Lauderdale, the Sawgrass Recreation Park is a prime spot to take an airboat ride on the Everglades. The rides are partly about thrills – the airboats can travel at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour.
Mainly, though, these Sawgrass Recreation Park airboat trips are about nature. Keep an eye out for turtles, wading birds and, of course, alligators.
Fort Lauderdale to Fort Myers drive: Naples
The southernmost city on Florida’s west coast has plenty going for it. You can get some beach time in at Lowdermilk Park, stroll through the Naples Botanical Garden and learn about the heritage of South West Florida inside the Collier Museum at Government Center.
Other Naples experiences include boat tours, sunset cruises, Segway tours and electric trike tours.
Top Naples hotels with consistently excellent reviews include the Escalante and the Bellasera Resort.
Attractions between Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers: 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.
More Fort Lauderdale road trips
Buffalo to Fort Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale to Cape Coral | Dallas to Fort Lauderdale | Houston to Fort Lauderdale | Jacksonville to Fort Lauderdale | Nashville to Fort Lauderdale | Philadelphia to Fort Lauderdale | Pittsburgh to Fort Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale to Washington DC.
More Fort Myers road trips
Bonita Springs to Fort Myers | Fort Lauderdale to Fort Myers.