Directions to Sanibel Island
By Car - From Southwest Florida International Airport and Surrounding Areas
1. Get on I-75
From the
Orlando
area: Drive Interstate 4 South to Tampa, then take Exit
131 to get on I-75 South.
(2 ½ - 3 ½ hours depending on your place of
departure.)
From Atlanta or
Tampa:
I-75
runs through both of these, so just head south. (10-11 hours.)
From Fort
Lauderdale or
Miami: Take I-75 North out of Fort Lauderdale to Exit 131
(portions
toll).
2. Exit I-75 to go West on Daniels Parkway (drive for 2.6 miles)
3. Go South (left) on Six Mile Cypress Parkway/Ben C. Pratt Parkway (drive for 4.3 miles)
4. Go West (left) on Summerlin Road (drive for 8.0 miles)
5. Cross the Sanibel Causeway (Toll Plaza)
The new bridge into Sanibel means no more waiting for boats to pass under the drawbridge.
The drive to Sanibel is a
beautiful
one. If you are visiting Sanibel after a trip to Disney, the peaceful
easiness
of Sanibel’s shores will be a welcome sight. Stay alert for Exit 131.
The interstate signs make no
reference to Sanibel or Captiva.
Take note of the shopping areas along the way to the Sanibel Causeway. There is plenty of outlet shopping, dining, and other retail stores (like a Walgreens) on the Florida mainland. These stores may come in handy if you find yourself out of a prescription or just wanting to buy some clothes at great prices to take back home.
The Sanibel Causeway is 3 miles long, with little manmade islands along the way. There is a new causeway now under construction, and as you drive you will see the underside of the new causeway. The old causeway has frequent delays due to boats passing under, requiring the drawbridge in the center to be lifted up. Cars have to wait until boats pass for the bridge come back down, and sometimes the bridge can get jammed causing further problems. The new causeway is built very high in the air to allow boats to pass under without affecting automobile traffic.
People often stop along the old causeway to fish or play in the water on little manmade islands, so you’re bound to see lots of activity. Dolphins are commonly seen here, as they feed on fish in the bay, and sometimes a manatee will make a showing.