Miami to Punta Gorda road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops
The best road trip stops on the Miami to Punta Gorda drive are Fort Lauderdale, Naples and Fort Myers. The distance from Miami to Punta Gorda by car is 181 miles, with a 2h46m driving time.
Planning a Miami to Punta Gorda road trip itinerary
The Miami to Punta Gorda drive takes you across southern Florida to an often-overlooked river city.
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.
Punta Gorda lies on the Peace River. Art meets nature at the Punta Gorda Botanical and Sculpture Gardens, while the Peace River Wildlife Center lets visitors meet rescued animals undergoing rehabilitation. In the west of the city, Ponce De Leon Park is a massive green space on Charlotte Harbor. The boardwalk through the wetlands comes with educational signs.
Arguably the best thing to do in Punta Gorda, however, is the night sky stargazing experience.
Marvellous Punta Gorda accommodation picks include the Suites at Fishermen’s Village and the stylish Wyvern Hotel.
Miami to Punta Gorda distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Miami to Punta Gorda is 181 miles. You can expect a driving time of around two hours and 46 minutes. Most of the drive is along the I-75.
The best stops to add to a Miami to Punta Gorda road trip itinerary are Fort Lauderdale, Naples and Fort Myers.
Miami to Punta Gorda drive: Fort Lauderdale
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.
Miami to Punta Gorda road trip attractions: Naples FL
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.
Best stops between Miami and Punta Gorda: Fort Myers FL
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.
More Miami road trips
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More Punta Gorda road trips
Cape Coral to Punta Gorda | Fort Myers to Punta Gorda | Naples to Punta Gorda.