scopeland

We will be spending a few days in the Keys and then driving up to Orlando. We are trying to decide if there is anywhere we should stop and spend the night so we could see more of Florida. Maybe a nice beach area since the Keys beaches aren't that great I hear. Thanks for any input.

Charlie

Fort Myers is about half way and the beaches are nice with Sanibel near by.

Patrick

I can't imagine the reasoning of driving from the keys to Ft. Myers on the "way to" Orlando. It would be considerably out of the way. Since your goal is to see more of Florida, I suppose South Beach in Miami or Ft. Lauderdale would help you do that.
But I'll agree that the West Coast beaches are generally "nicer" than the East coast ones.

Postal

I don't think you can do much better than the beach at Fort Lauderdale. That leaves you about three hours to Orlando.

Larry1

I agree with both Patrick and Postal about Ft. Lauderdale, especially if you are a family with kids. West Coast beaches are a little nicer (although I would say it seems people associate "quiet" with "nice") but not that much nicer to justify going way out of the way for a one day/one night stay.

Charlie

I can see Postal and Patrick's point but having made the trip a number of times the route along the west coast only adds 35 miles to the trip and I always find the drive through the Everglades on rt.41 interesting but,then again,I'm a nature lover.The beaches around Sanibel are hard to beat and nearby Interstate 75 softens the drive to Orlando.In any case, have a safe/fun trip !!

Larry1

Charlie, can you provide the route you take? A quick mapping exercise seems to show a Key Largo-Sanibel-Orlando trip is about 430 miles, while a Key Largo-Ft.Lauderdale-Orlando trip is about 310 miles; a difference of about 120 miles. Which way do you go that makes it 35 miles?

Charlie

No problem Larry.....Key Largo Rt.1 to Homestead then Rt.997 north to left on Rt.41 thru the glades to a right on Rt.29, continue to Interstate 75 take 75 into Ft. Myers.
From Ft. Myers I take I75N to rt. 17 north continue on 17 until Interstate 4 into Orlando.
Key Largo to Ft.Myers 165 miles
Ft.Myers to Orlando 153 miles
318 miles

Key Largo to Ft.Laud. 70 miles
Ft. Laud. to Orlando 209 miles
279 miles


Sorry Larry...I had said 35 miles actually its 39 miles. Cheers....

AAFrequentFlyer

Charlie,
Maybe you're right about the distances, but the drive itself will be about 2 hours longer at least, since most of your driving is on secondary roads. And don't forget Ft.Myers is not Sanibel, it's about another 20 miles. So as scopeland stated it's only an overnight stay, I'm not sure it's worth it.

Charlie

AA I agree with you, I wasn't stating a requirement only a suggested route.As for secondary roads....these particular ones travel well and scopeland stated a desire to" see more of Florida" and I believe you'll see more of the real Florida on secondary roads then you will on the Turnpike or I95.
Only scopeland knows if its worth it...cheers.

alliegator

We've stopped in West Palm Beach before.

Larry1

Yes, the reason I came up with a different milage is because I foolishly plotted based on major highways. If by "seeing more of the real Florida" Charlie means being stuck behind a busload of migrant farmworkers doing 40 mph down Krome Ave (Rt 997) while being tailgated by a pickup truck with a gunrack in the back window, his route will certainly not disappoint.

Charlie

Whoa there Larry....I was only answering your question.Thanks for foolishly explaining what I meant.Cheers !!!