Getting To Fort Myers

Access to Fort Myers by private car or public transportation is a fairly stress-free affair on account of major road access. Interstate 75 provides connections with all destinations north and south of the city, allowing bus services to reach the city quickly. Trains connect with neighbouring Tampa, while the quickest and most convenient means of getting to Fort Myers is by flying to Southwest Florida International Airport.

By car

Travelling to Fort Myers from the north or the south, drivers should take I-75, which runs the length of the city and provides convenient and speedy access. From the east, there are several roads that come into Fort Myers; however, highway 80 is the chief access road. Since Fort Myers is located on the west coast, there are no major destinations further west of it. Vehicles drive on the right side of the road in the USA and visitors are warned that driving conditions on I-75 can be exceedingly hazardous.

By rail

There are no train stations in Fort Myers and visitors wishing to travel by train to the city from other major US cities will need to travel to Tampa, then transfer by Greyhound bus. Amtrak provides services between Tampa and a variety of destinations.

By bus

The Greyhound Bus Company provides services between Fort Myers and other Florida cities as well as major US cities. The public bus service operated by LeeTran provides connections between Fort Myers and other Lee County destinations.

By air

Visitors wishing to reach Fort Myers by air can fly to Southwest Florida International Airport, a single-terminal facility that serves not only Fort Myers but all cities within the Lee County area. It is a busy airport with traffic on the increase following the opening of a new terminal in autumn of 2005.

By ferry

Key West Ferry and Key West Shuttle provide high-speed ferry services between Fort Myers Beach and Key West. Journey times are approximately 3 hours, 30 minutes.

Fort Myers: Southwest Florida International Airport

Situated 16kms (10 miles) southeast of Fort Myers, Southwest Florida International Airport is the main gateway to Florida’s Gulf Coast region. Since the opening of its new terminal in September 2005, annual passenger figures have leapt to over five million and the facility is now ranked among the 60 busiest airports in the US. Major airlines providing services include: Continental, Delta, AirTran, Spirit, American Airlines and US Airways. Destinations served are primarily domestic, with regular flights from Orlando, New York JFK and Chicago O’Hare airports. The airport is well equipped with passenger facilities including a bureau de change and several ATMs as well as ample dining and shopping amenities.

Southwest Florida International Airport transportation

Buses operated by LeeTran run hourly from the airport to Daniels parkway, from where a variety of connections can be made with other routes operated by the same company.

Taxis are available from outside of the airport terminal building and can either be booked on arrival from the ground transportation booth (located between the terminal and the short-stay car park) or in advance by calling any of the following companies: Aaron Discount Taxi (tel: +1 800 998 1898), Apple Transportation (tel: +1 800 852 7027) or Best Value Taxi (tel: +1 800 998 1898). Passengers should note that taxi rides from the airport are subject to price regulations and fares are levied according to the zone in which your destination is located. Car hire companies are represented at the airport and the desks of companies such as Avis, Budget, Hertz and Thrifty can be found on the ground level of the parking garage.