At the end of Feb. we are flying into Ft. Lauderdale and driving across the Everglades to Ft. Myers. Any suggestions for points of interest in this drive? I've always wanted to ride on an airboat... any suggestions? Time will be limited.

The most welcome sights are the toll booths at each end!

Actually there aren't any real attractions along the way. Half way across is a horrible but fairly large Indian run rest stop with greasy fried food, fuel, and smelly restrooms. There is also a "recreation area" not far from the eastern end where you can launch your own small boat or airboat. You can stop there to see alligators if you want. There are airboat rides along Tamiami Trail (US 41 which parallels Alligator Alley further to the south -- running from Miami to Naples.

Alligator Alley is just another Interstate highway, but it is a nice drive across the upper Everglades if you are in a big hurry.

As was suggested take US-41, the Tamiami Trail. Much nicer and if you would like to stop there is something to do...and see...

If you take rt 41. stop at shark valley. national park site. birds, tram tour of the everglades. you will actually see something here. versus the airboat tours which are noisy and often not that fruitful. several other nice stops as well.

There is nothing to see but if you have kids with you tell them to look at the water and count how many alligators they see. The time will pass a bit quicker that way. Be sure to top off your tank before you get on it. There are no gas stations.

I always want to fall asleep when I drive that road. Or any highway down here in Florida. The roads are very straight and flat and lull you into a coma-like state. That never happens to me on, say, the PA turnpike.

People often do fall asleep on this road at night. If they are lucky, they land in the water backwards with their headlights pointing up and someone finds them. Sometimes they aren't lucky and are not found for some time. Not relevant to you, but this is a really, really boring road.

If you take 41 here is an article about things to see....

http://www.sptimes.com/2003/webspeci...chapter1.shtml

The drive from toll booth to toll booth is 6- 70 minutes. The only thing yu notice is the lack of trees and a lot of trees. The passengers can see gators when you start seeing trees. They sit on the banks if it is sunny and hot.

And be aware that most drivers drive well over the speed limit. Its a very fast highway.

The speeding isn't so bad as it used to be. They've been putting a lot of police on Alligator Alley -- at least in the Collier County (western) half. Coming back from Ft. Lauderdale last week, I must have seen at least 8 or 10 cars stopped by police. They were everywhere! They give you up to 10 over the limit -- which means most people travel around 79 or so in the 70 MPH zones, which is most of it.

Also there are chain link type fences along most of the roadway (mainly to keep alligators and other wildlife off the highway). Recently they have been attaching sensors to those fences so that if a car crashes into one (or through it) it releases a signal so they come to rescue you.

And to correct a post above, there is gas along the way -- one large Seminole run station approx. half way across.

I guess I have been lucky. I drive that route about twice a month and never see more then one or two police cars. I drive 80-85 mph and I seem to usually be the slow one, lol!

No Name, has that been in the past month? That's about when the increased police activity was started.

Just came back from a trip last week. I guess I have been lucky. About the gas station........there is one but I think its pretty close to the Miami end? Maybe 15-20 miles from the toll booth? I never pay any attention to it because I have had too many close calls with gas so I fill up in Immokolee before I get on and then fill up somewhere in Miami before getting on at that end.

Also just another note, cell phones usage is spotty (not that anyone should be on a cell phone at those speeds, lol) along the Alley. Don't be surprised if you drop a call(s) while on it. There are phones along the Alley for anyone who needs help but I have always wondered it they really work. I hope I never have to find out.

We find Tamiami Trail (41) to be more enjoyable to drive then Alligator Alley. It's a two lane highway and lots of alligator's to see along the roadway.

Ah, no name, I think you may have explained you "luck". You get on by going down from Immokalee on route 29? The bulk of the Collier police force is working the western end of Alligator Alley -- between the western toll booths and Route 29. They seem to work out of that rest area near the western end and patrol between there and the western toll booth.

I agree that 41 is much nicer, but certainly out of the way and much longer for a "limited time" trip from Ft. Lauderdale to Ft. Myers.

That make sense but I am glad to hear they are cracking down on the speeders. I personally have seen one accident happen right before my eyes. I was going the other way thankfully.

Realistically, how long would it take to drive from the Ft. Lauderdale Airport to Ft. Myers via Tamiami Trail?

Three hours if you're very lucky?
Tough question because this time of year just the drive from Naples to Ft. Myers can vary from 40 minutes to an hour and a half. Similarly, the time to get from Ft. Lauderdale airport down through Miami and out to the western edge of Miami can be very slow as well.