Orlando to Fort Myers/best route?

[Tony Toon]

We fly into Orlando in under two weeks staying at Gaylord Palms the first night before heading down to Fort Myers Beach for a few days before returning to "The World" for 3 more weeks.

It would appear that there are two good ways to get to the Fort Myers area. The question is - which is best, via Tampa or via Arcadia? Are there any particular advantages/disadvantages to either? I have received recommendations for both so am quite confused.

Tony

 

[RichmondTiggerFan]

I can't speak for going through Arcadia, but I've driven to Fort Myers on I-4/I-75 once & it was pretty easy & straightforward. There aren't any complicated interchanges to go through & you don't go through any cities(I-75 kind of bypasses Tampa to the east).

 

[leanne11]

it seems that in Florida they don't pass on the left like Jersey or Pa, it was mostly 2/3 lanes and wow they all drive sooo slow and they all drive the same speed so it was impossible to pass, a looooong boring frustrating drive..
besides that we loved ft myers,, we stayed at the Pink Shell wonderfull u will love it, we actually looked at real estate when we were they fell in love w/sunsets
get a beach view restaurant seat right before sun sets and get a camera ready..the best ..we took a boat out for a dolphin and sunset cruise,,,unbeleivable

 

[deej696]

Made this drive many times. If it were me I would just take I4 to I75. I've never done the other route, but this way is pretty straight forward and should be an easy drive...

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

The I-4 to I-75 route takes at least a half-hour longer than going down US 27. But every time I've driven it I've not cut over through Arcadia which is the way Mapquest recommends. Much of that route is 2-lane roads. I just stay on US 27 south, all the way to Palmdale. At that little town you get on the only 2-lane section of the journey, a 14-mile section of SR 29. At LaBelle you pick up SR 80 straight west to I-75. That 2-lane section I mentioned is freshly paved, has wide shoulders and is very easy to pass on what little traffic you encounter.

BobK/Orlando

 

[Tony Toon]

Thanks for the advice. Not unanimous, and I can see the advantages of both arguments but the strength of feeling seems to be the I4 / I75. Decisions - decisions. (?????) 10 days now and once I get to Fort Myers beach with a month of Florida delights to look forward to concerns like this will seem very far away.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Tony Toon, I just noticed you're from Scotland. For you I would recommend you take I-4 over to I-75. Expressway driving is much easier then contending with the stop and go of traffic lights along US 27. And if you have time on the return journey, consider a deviation on to I-275 and drive on to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to St. Petersburg: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunshine_Skyway_Bridge That circles around through Tampa where it meets up with I-4 back to Orlando.
Fun experience! Have a great trip to Florida!

BobK/Orlando

 

[Tony Toon]

Thanks KBotN, I think I will take the I-75 after everyone's advice. The Skyway bridge looks great and might well be on the agenda on our return journey. This is our first trip to the SW coast of Florida and everything we've read suggests we'll have a wonderful vacation. Thanks for your kind wishes. Another first is that DD's bf joins us once we return to Orlando, never having experienced Disney before and can't understand our enthusiasm.
It'll be interesting to see his reaction.