Fort Myers Beach is perfectly placed for some of the best day trips in Southwest Florida — here’s how to do Sanibel, Captiva, Naples, and the Everglades right.
One of the quiet advantages of staying on Estero Island is that you’re an easy drive from some genuinely world-class places. Guests ask us all the time what’s worth leaving the beach for. The honest answer: a lot — but only if you pick your days well and know what you’re getting into.
Here are the four day trips we recommend most, with realistic driving times from the house and the details that actually matter.
1. Sanibel Island — the shelling capital
Drive time from Fort Myers Beach: roughly 35–45 minutes via the Sanibel Causeway.
Sanibel is the classic first-timer day trip, and it holds up. The island’s east-west orientation catches the Gulf currents just right, which is why it’s famous for shelling — people call the bent-over beachcombing posture the “Sanibel Stoop.” If you want shells, head to Bowman’s Beach early, before the crowds and the heat. The Sanibel Lighthouse at the eastern tip is the postcard shot.
Don’t skip the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, which covers about half the island in protected mangrove and estuary habitat. The Wildlife Drive is one of the best places in Florida to see roseate spoonbills, herons, and ibis without breaking a sweat. Go at low tide in the morning for the best birding.
Two practical notes: the causeway is a toll bridge, so bring a few dollars or a SunPass, and the island continues to rebuild and reopen after Hurricane Ian — most of what you’re coming for is back and better, but a handful of spots are still coming online. Plan loosely and let the island surprise you.
2. Captiva Island — small, slow, and worth the extra miles
Drive time from Fort Myers Beach: about an hour, straight up through Sanibel and over Blind Pass.
Captiva is what people imagine when they picture old Florida. It’s tiny — a couple of miles of low-key beach town with one main lane. Andy Rosse Lane is the heart of it: a few restaurants, an ice cream shop, and a beach that’s arguably even better than Sanibel’s for a quiet afternoon. The sunset from the end of the lane is a favorite.
Why go: if Sanibel feels like a destination, Captiva feels like a secret. Bring a book and plan on a slow lunch. It pairs naturally with Sanibel in a single day if you start early.
3. Naples — the upscale end of the coast
Drive time from Fort Myers Beach: roughly an hour south on I-75 or US-41.
Naples is a different Florida: polished, walkable, and quietly wealthy. Fifth Avenue South is the downtown strip for shopping, galleries, and dinner — it’s an easy, pleasant place to spend a late afternoon and evening. Catch Naples Pier for sunset, then pick a restaurant on Fifth and walk it off afterward.
If you’ve got kids along, the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens and the Naples Botanical Garden are both solid half-day stops. This is the trip where you dress up a little and make a dinner of it — a nice change of pace from beach-casual.
Pro tip: go on a weekday if you can. Fifth Avenue parking is much friendlier before 5pm on a Tuesday than it is on a busy Saturday night.
4. The Everglades — the wild side of Southwest Florida
Drive time from Fort Myers Beach: about an hour and 15 minutes to Everglades City, a bit longer if you wander.
This is the day trip that surprises people. Everglades City, on the edge of the Ten Thousand Islands, is the western gateway to Everglades National Park. An airboat tour through the mangroves is the classic move — you’ll be gliding through a maze of green water and islands, likely spotting alligators, ospreys, and more wading birds than you can count.
For a slower, drive-it-yourself option, Big Cypress National Preserve and the Loop Road put you right in the swamp with your own car and no schedule. Take it at a crawl, pull over often, and keep an eye out for gators sunning on the banks.
What to bring: bug spray (this is not optional), water, closed shoes, and a full tank of gas. Cell service comes and goes out there — download your maps first.
How to plan your week
You don’t have to do all four, and honestly you shouldn’t try. A good rhythm looks like this: pick one or two day trips for the week, and spend the rest of your time on the island — the pool, the beach, the sunsets over the Gulf, and the restaurants within a few minutes of the house. The day trips are the bonus, not the whole trip.
If you’re choosing between them: shellers and birders go to Sanibel and Captiva; shoppers and dinner people go to Naples; anyone who wants a story to take home goes to the Everglades.
Wherever you end up, you’ll be glad you stayed on Fort Myers Beach — it’s the quiet center of it all. When you’re ready to plan your stay, our booking page is the place to start: Book the “Do We” Beach House.
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