Port Charlotte to Fort Myers drive: Best stops, distance & time
The best road trip stops on the Port Charlotte to Fort Myers drive are Punta Gorda, the Charlotte Flatwoods Environmental Park and the Shell Factory. The distance from Port Charlotte to Fort Myers by car is 28 miles, with a 36 minute driving time.
Finding the best things to do between Port Charlotte and Fort Myers
The Port Charlotte to Fort Myers drive is a short hop down Florida’s west coast.
On the north bank of the Peace River, Port Charlotte is largely about golf courses and waterside parks. Of these, the Bayshore Live Oak Park has picnic tables, grills and an amphitheater. The Port Charlotte Beach Park is the highlight though. Along with the sand and calm waters, there are horseshoe pits, basketball courts, a heated swimming pool and a fishing pier.
Search for the best Port Charlotte accommodation deals here.
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.
Port Charlotte to Fort Myers distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Port Charlotte to Fort Myers is 28 miles. That makes for a driving time of around 36 minutes. The quickest route is along the US-41.
The best stops to add to a Port Charlotte to Fort Myers road trip itinerary are Punta Gorda, the Charlotte Flatwoods Environmental Park and the Shell Factory.
Best stops between Port Charlotte and Fort Myers: Punta Gorda
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.
Port Charlotte to Fort Myers drive: Charlotte Flatwoods Environmental Park
The Charlotte Flatwoods Environmental Park covers 487 acres. The habitats switch between marsh wetlands, mature pine flatwoods, freshwater ponds and dry prairie. Plenty of wildlife lives here, including kestrels, bald eagles, otters, deer and bobcats. It’s largely set up for conservation, but there is a nature trail for visitors.
Port Charlotte to Fort Myers road trip attractions: The Shell Factory
The Shell Factory proudly boasts that it hosts the world’s largest collection of sea shells. The gift shop is clearly the focus, but there’s also a fun park on site. This includes a zipline, carousel, shooting gallery and bumper boats. You can also try gem mining and a climbing wall.
More Fort Myers road trips
Bonita Springs to Fort Myers | Fort Lauderdale to Fort Myers | Fort Myers to Punta Gorda.