Driving Directions to Sanibel Island and Captive Island

There are several major cities in Florida you might be traveling from for your beach getaway to Sanibel Island or Captiva Island. We've created this directions guide to help you get to your vacation rental as quickly as possible! We've got you covered whether you're coming from Miami, Tampa, Orlando, or Jacksonville.

How to Get to Sanibel Island

Miami to Sanibel Island

The fastest way to get from Miami to Sanibel Island is to get onto Interstate 75 North. You'll take I-75 most of the way for more than 100 miles. Take exit 128 and turn left onto Alico Road. You'll travel about 3.5 miles and then turn right onto Highway 41 North. Drive for about 2.5 miles and turn left onto Gladiolus Drive. From there, it's basically a straight shot with Gladiolus turning into Summerlin Road which then turns into McGregor Boulevard. McGregor will take you to the Sanibel Causeway where you'll have to pay a toll to go over the bridge to Sanibel Island. Once you're over the bridge, the road will turn into Periwinkle Way, the main strip in Sanibel. The trip should take about 3 hours depending on traffic.

Tampa to Sanibel Island

The easiest way to get from Tampa to Sanibel Island is to take the Selmon Expressway East and then take Interstate 75 South. You'll stay on I-75 for most of the drive, more than 130 miles. Once you get to Fort Myers, take exit 131 and turn right onto Daniels Parkway. Follow the road for about 2.5 miles, and then, turn left onto 6 Mile Cypress Parkway. After about three miles, the road will become Gladiolus Drive. From there, it's basically a straight shot with Gladiolus turning into Summerlin Road which then turns into McGregor Boulevard. McGregor will take you to the Sanibel Causeway where you'll have to pay a toll to go over the bridge to Sanibel Island. Once you're over the bridge, the road will turn into Periwinkle Way, the main strip in Sanibel. The trip should take about 2.5 miles depending on traffic.

Orlando to Sanibel Island

The best way to get from Orlando to Sanibel Island is to take Interstate 4 for about 40 miles. Take exit 41 toward State Road 570 West (Polk Parkway.) Travel for about 10 miles and take exit 14 for State Road 540 East. Go about 1.5 miles and turn right onto Thornhill Road. Stay on Thornhill for about 3 miles, and then, turn right onto Spirit Lake Road. After less than 2 miles, turn right onto Highway 17 South. Stay on Hwy 17 for about 50 miles, and then, turn left onto North 17th Avenue. After about 3.5 miles, turn left into Highway 70, and then, turn right onto State Road 31 South after about half a mile. Stay on 31 for about 40 miles until you get to State Road 80. Turn right onto 80 and travel about 3 miles until you can merge onto Interstate 75. After about 9 miles, take exit 131 and turn right onto Daniels Parkway. Follow the road for about 2.5 miles, and then, turn left onto 6 Mile Cypress Parkway. After about three miles, the road will become Gladiolus Drive. From there, it's basically a straight shot with Gladiolus turning into Summerlin Road which then turns into McGregor Boulevard. McGregor will take you to the Sanibel Causeway where you'll have to pay a toll to go over the bridge to Sanibel Island. Once you're over the bridge, the road will turn into Periwinkle Way, the main strip in Sanibel. The trip should take about 3.5 hours depending on traffic. 

Jacksonville to Sanibel Island

The quickest way to get from Jacksonville to Sanibel Island is to take Interstate 95 south. Travel about 86 miles, and then, take exit 260 C-B-A to merge onto Interstate 4 West toward Orlando. Stay on I-4 for about 93 miles, and then, take exit 41 toward State Road 570 West (Polk Parkway.) Travel for about 10 miles and take exit 14 for State Road 540 East. Go about 1.5 miles and turn right onto Thornhill Road. Stay on Thornhill for about 3 miles, and then, turn right onto Spirit Lake Road. After less than 2 miles, turn right onto Highway 17 South. Stay on Hwy 17 for about 50 miles, and then, turn left onto North 17th Avenue. After about 3.5 miles, turn left into Highway 70, and then, turn right onto State Road 31 South after about half a mile. Stay on 31 for about 40 miles until you get to State Road 80. Turn right onto 80 and travel about 3 miles until you can merge onto Interstate 75. After about 9 miles, take exit 131 and turn right onto Daniels Parkway. Follow the road for about 2.5 miles, and then, turn left onto 6 Mile Cypress Parkway. After about three miles, the road will become Gladiolus Drive. From there, it's basically a straight shot with Gladiolus turning into Summerlin Road which then turns into McGregor Boulevard. McGregor will take you to the Sanibel Causeway where you'll have to pay a toll to go over the bridge to Sanibel Island. Once you're over the bridge, the road will turn into Periwinkle Way, the main strip in Sanibel. The trip should take about 5.5 hours depending on traffic.

How to Get to Captiva Island

Miami to Captiva Island

The fastest way to get from Miami to Captiva Island is to get onto Interstate 75 North. You'll take I-75 most of the way for more than 100 miles. Take exit 128 and turn left onto Alico Road. You'll travel about 3.5 miles and then turn right onto Highway 41 North. Drive for about 2.5 miles and turn left onto Gladiolus Drive. From there, it's almost a straight shot to Sanibel Island with Gladiolus turning into Summerlin Road which then turns into McGregor Boulevard. McGregor will take you to the Sanibel Causeway where you'll have to pay a toll to go over the bridge to Sanibel Island. Once you're over the bridge, you'll follow Periwinkle Way for about 2.5 miles until you turn right onto Palm Ridge Road. The road will quickly turn into Sanibel Captiva Road which will take you through Sanibel Island and to Captiva Island. You'll go over Blind Pass Bridge, and once you're on Captiva, the road will become Captiva Drive, the main road through the island. The trip should take about 3.5 hours depending on traffic.

Tampa to Captiva Island

The easiest way to get from Tampa to Captiva Island is to take the Selmon Expressway East and then take Interstate 75 South. You'll stay on I-75 for most of the drive, more than 130 miles. Once you get to Fort Myers, take exit 131 and turn right onto Daniels Parkway. Follow the road for about 2.5 miles, and then, turn left onto 6 Mile Cypress Parkway. After about three miles, the road will become Gladiolus Drive. From there, it's almost a straight shot with Gladiolus turning into Summerlin Road which then turns into McGregor Boulevard. McGregor will take you to the Sanibel Causeway where you'll have to pay a toll to go over the bridge to Sanibel Island. Once you're over the bridge, you'll follow Periwinkle Way for about 2.5 miles until you turn right onto Palm Ridge Road. The road will quickly turn into Sanibel Captiva Road which will take you through Sanibel Island and to Captiva Island. You'll go over Blind Pass Bridge, and once you're on Captiva, the road will become Captiva Drive, the main road through the island. The trip should take about 3 hours depending on traffic.

Orlando to Captiva Island

The best way to get from Orlando to Captiva Island is to take Interstate 4 for about 40 miles. Take exit 41 toward State Road 570 West (Polk Parkway.) Travel for about 10 miles and take exit 14 for State Road 540 East. Go about 1.5 miles and turn right onto Thornhill Road. Stay on Thornhill for about 3 miles, and then, turn right onto Spirit Lake Road. After less than 2 miles, turn right onto Highway 17 South. Stay on Hwy 17 for about 50 miles, and then, turn left onto North 17th Avenue. After about 3.5 miles, turn left into Highway 70, and then, turn right onto State Road 31 South after about half a mile. Stay on 31 for about 40 miles until you get to State Road 80. Turn right onto 80 and travel about 3 miles until you can merge onto Interstate 75. After about 9 miles, take exit 131 and turn right onto Daniels Parkway. Follow the road for about 2.5 miles, and then, turn left onto 6 Mile Cypress Parkway. After about three miles, the road will become Gladiolus Drive. From there, it's almost a straight shot with Gladiolus turning into Summerlin Road which then turns into McGregor Boulevard. McGregor will take you to the Sanibel Causeway where you'll have to pay a toll to go over the bridge to Sanibel Island. Once you're over the bridge, you'll follow Periwinkle Way for about 2.5 miles until you turn right onto Palm Ridge Road. The road will quickly turn into Sanibel Captiva Road which will take you through Sanibel Island and to Captiva Island. You'll go over Blind Pass Bridge, and once you're on Captiva, the road will become Captiva Drive, the main road through the island. The trip should take about 4 hours depending on the traffic.

Jacksonville to Captiva Island

The quickest way to get from Jacksonville to Captiva Island is to take Interstate 95 south. Travel about 86 miles, and then, take exit 260 C-B-A to merge onto Interstate 4 West toward Orlando. Stay on I-4 for about 93 miles, and then, take exit 41 toward State Road 570 West (Polk Parkway.) Travel for about 10 miles and take exit 14 for State Road 540 East. Go about 1.5 miles and turn right onto Thornhill Road. Stay on Thornhill for about 3 miles, and then, turn right onto Spirit Lake Road. After less than 2 miles, turn right onto Highway 17 South. Stay on Hwy 17 for about 50 miles, and then, turn left onto North 17th Avenue. After about 3.5 miles, turn left into Highway 70, and then, turn right onto State Road 31 South after about half a mile. Stay on 31 for about 40 miles until you get to State Road 80. Turn right onto 80 and travel about 3 miles until you can merge onto Interstate 75. After about 9 miles, take exit 131 and turn right onto Daniels Parkway. Follow the road for about 2.5 miles, and then, turn left onto 6 Mile Cypress Parkway. After about three miles, the road will become Gladiolus Drive. From there, it's almost a straight shot with Gladiolus turning into Summerlin Road which then turns into McGregor Boulevard. McGregor will take you to the Sanibel Causeway where you'll have to pay a toll to go over the bridge to Sanibel Island. Once you're over the bridge, you'll follow Periwinkle Way for about 2.5 miles until you turn right onto Palm Ridge Road. The road will quickly turn into Sanibel Captiva Road which will take you through Sanibel Island and to Captiva Island. You'll go over Blind Pass Bridge, and once you're on Captiva, the road will become Captiva Drive, the main road through the island. The trip should take about 6 hours depending on traffic.