Miami to Fort Myers road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops
The best road trip stops on the Miami to Fort Myers drive are Fort Lauderdale, Naples and Bonita Springs. The distance from Miami to Fort Myers is 158 miles, with a 2h25m driving time.
Planning a Miami to Fort Myers road trip itinerary
The Miami to Fort Myers drive connects two of the greatest cities in southern Florida.
Miami is a city with several sides to it. The art deco and showiness of South Beach contrasts heavily with the landscaped garden grandeur of Coral Gables, for example.
Top Miami experiences include food tours of Little Havana, sightseeing by speedboat and South Beach cruises that take in the homes of millionaires. Alternatively, try a sunset cocktail cruise, a half day Everglades tour or a scenic helicopter flight.
Attractions worth getting advance tickets for include the Frost Science Museum, the Museum of Graffiti and the Paradox Museum.
The most memorable Miami accommodation is in one of South Beach’s art deco hotels. The Essex House Hotel is an architectural classic. The National has an amazing pool.
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.
The cultural highlights, however, are the Winter Estates of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Along with lavish gardens, these mansions are full of stories about legendary inventors going on wild adventures.
Great Fort Myers hotel options include the brilliantly-located Luminary Hotel and Margaritaville Beach Resort.
Miami to Fort Myers distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Miami to Fort Myers is 158 miles. That makes for a driving time of around two hours and 25 minutes. Most of the drive is along the I-75.
The best stops to add to a Miami to Fort Myers road trip itinerary are Fort Lauderdale, Naples and Bonita Springs.
For more suggestions, read the guides to the Fort Lauderdale to Naples drive and Naples to Fort Myers drive.
Miami to Fort Myers drive: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is 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.
Best stops between Miami and Fort Myers: Naples, Florida
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.
Miami to Fort Myers road trip attractions: Bonita Springs, Florida
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 and paddleboard rentals.
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.
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Bonita Springs to Fort Myers | Fort Lauderdale to Fort Myers | Naples to Fort Myers | Port Charlotte to Fort Myers | Fort Myers to Punta Gorda.