Driving from Ft Myers to WDW

[Disneyolic]

Hoping someone that lives in Ft. Myers that makes the drive to WDW will help me out with this. We will be vacationing in Ft. Myers in November and plan on doing a 1 nighter trip to WDW. I've studied maps and had directions downloaded from both Mapquest and Maps.com. Both of those sites instruct me to drive all the way up I-75 toward Tampa and then take 4 over.

My dad has a program that instructs me to take Rt 17 up toward Lakeland then over on 4.

Please tell me how you make the drive and why you choose that route.

BTW, we will be travelling with 3 small children (5yo, 3yo, and 4 months) and plan on eating lunch on the way. We may also need to stop to breastfeed.

Thanks so much for your help!!

~DawnMaree

 

[Eeyore4me]

I just made almost that exact drive in August. I was visiting my Mom in Cape Coral which is right near Fort Myers and drove to Orlando. You do want to take 75 to 4 It is so direct and took me exactly 3 hours. There are some rest areas along the route, but I would try & do it on 75 rather than 4. There was a lot of construction going on with 4 and it was kind of a mess. I have family & friends that make that trek a few times a year and they have always done 75 to 4

Have Fun!!

Lauren

 

[travelbug]

I'll also be interested in a FL resident's answer to this.

On my last trip, I split time between Ft. Myers Beach and WDW. I took the route you mentioned, using I-75 to I-4. I'm usually an interstate kind of traveler, so that route seemed like a good choice. (Can't stand 2-lane highways.) Well, the drive turned out to take FOREVER, partly because of a crashing, pouring thunderstorm that seemed to be right above my car for miles. Then the construction on I-4 slowed traffic down to a crawl. While I was inching along, I remember wondering if a FL resident would have chosen a different route.

I know we have a few Ft. Myers residents that frequent the DIS boards, so hopefully at least one of them will weigh in.

 

[FINFAN]

I also agree with the 75 -4 route. Did this several times...last Christmas being the most recent. I also agree with making your stops along 75 if you can time it right. There are places along 4, but it can be bumper to bmper. When we left WDW Xmas eve last year to head to Ft. Myers the traffic backed up heading into WDW was outrageous! Just solid for miles. Crazy us, this time we will be at the parks when the crowds arrive.

 

[cruise-o-matic]

We did the 75-4 route in July w/no problems or major slowdowns. The hiways in FL are flat and straight, which means if you ain't going 75, you're getting run over.

Just plan your journey so it don't hit rush hour around any of the metropolitan areas.

My cousin jokes that the only time you see hills in FL is when they're building an overpass.

 

[Disneyolic]

Thanks for your advice. Still hoping for a Ft. Myers resident's advice to see if they agree.

~DawnMaree

 

[cruise-o-matic]

Well my G'dad lives in Ft. Myers and that was the advice he gave me.......

 

[ccotis]

I live in the area and I do not go on I-75. I take SR 80 to LaBelle. I then take 29 north to US 27. I take 27 until I get to I-4. I do it this way because SR 80 is almost all 4 laned from East Ft Myers to Labelle now. 29 is two lanes between Labelle and US 27 but there is hardly any traffic. US 27 going north is slow through Sebring, Avon Park , and Lake Wales, but there are many places to stop and if there is some type of accident on the road, there are many alternate routes to get to WDW from 27. If you get stuck on I-75, you might be sitting for a while or get detoured well out of your way. I usually make it in 3 hrs. or less.

Another good way to go is take I-75 to 17. Then take 17 north to Bartow and get on 60 and go east until you get to 27.Then 27 to I-4. The only drawback to this route is the amount of two lane driving on 17.

These are the ways I go, I just don't enjoy interstate driving.

 

[Disneyolic]

ccotis Thanks for your advice. My husband was wondering about the 80/27/29 route. It will either be that way or Rte 17 up as I think that would probably be the best way for stopping for lunch. I think Bartow area has a good strip for dining and would be around lunchtime for us to stop. We'll be coming from almost the Sanibel Island causeway.

Any other Ft. Myers residents...would love to hear from you!

~DawnMaree

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by Disneyolic
[BWe'll be coming from almost the Sanibel Island causeway.
Any other Ft. Myers residents...would love to hear from you!
~DawnMaree [/B]

I live right by the causeway. Are you staying at the Country Inn & Suites?
I would only take I-75 to I-4. it's takes me 3 hours and 10 minutes. The only way can take 4. If you hit any rain it will take longer and theoads can be winding.
There are plenty of places to stop on theay up on 75. There are even some outlets stores about half way.
Do allow some extra time, there is some construction north of Lakeland.

 

[Eeyore4me]

When I wrote that "I have family & friends that make that trek a few times a year and they have always done 75 to 4" I meant the family FROM THERE. Mom is in Cape Coral & they would take the same route as Fort Myers and all other family & friends are in Fort Myers & Lehigh Acres....all going the same way. I've NEVER had it take longer than 3 hrs & it's very direct.

 

[Disneyolic]

Thanks again so much! Now I am rethinking our drive route to I-75.

CPM We are actually staying in Jonathan Harbour in a home owned by my father's place of employment. I remember where you live (remember we chatted a bit about my family moving down there maybe?). I think I would estimate the same amount of time then.

Thanks to everyone else for all their advise. It has been very helpful. Here's hoping for a smooth drive there and back...

~DawnMaree

 

[FINFAN]

Same here, my brother lives in Ft Myers (cape coral) and we took the route he takes....75/4. Years ago (about 20) DH and I took a "back way"route...I have no idea what the roads were, but I do remember thinking, why aren't we on the main higway...never again.

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by Disneyolic
Thanks again so much! Now I am rethinking our drive route to I-75.
CPM We are actually staying in Jonathan Harbour in a home owned by my father's place of employment. I remember where you live (remember we chatted a bit about my family moving down there maybe?). I think I would estimate the same amount of time then.
~DawnMaree

Ahh yes! I knew your name was familiar!!
Have a great time. I'm PMing you again........

 

[Hedy]

Anyone done this trek recently? I was hoping to do a trip starting in RSW/Naples and ending in Orlando (Universal), but now it looks like flying both ways into MCO is much cheaper. Will I go crazy doing the same drive twice? Any stops I should make?

 

[CPM]

wow, I think this thread is 5 years old! LOL

Times have not changed, it's about a 3 hour drive from RSW to Universal, I do it all the time. Not much to see inbetween unless you want to go to Busch Gardens or the beach for a day.

 

[debster812]

Anyone done this trek recently? I was hoping to do a trip starting in RSW/Naples and ending in Orlando (Universal), but now it looks like flying both ways into MCO is much cheaper. Will I go crazy doing the same drive twice? Any stops I should make?

Holy Way Back Machine batkids!!!

We did the drive from WDW to Ft Myers in February. It's really not a bad drive, especially if you do the I75 to I4 and vice versa. It's about 3 hours for us from WDW to my parent's house in Bonita Springs.