We will be landing at Miami about 4.00pm in May & I just wondered whether anyone can suggest the best route to Naples west at that time of day.
Thank you

There's no fun way at that time of day. Just expect to be bumper-to-bumper for the first half hour or so until you get on the Turnpike.

Take 836 (Dolphin Expressway) west and get onto the Florida Trunpike going north.

Get onto 75 North as the Turnpike veers northeast.

Take 75/93/Alligator Alley (all the same - 75 makes a sharp left/west turn here) west for about 90 miles and follow the signs to Naples.

Once on the Turnpike it probably won't be too bad.

The alternative route is to exit the airport south and take State Route 41 (the old Aligator Alley) across. 41 is 10 miles shorter, but you are city streets getting out of town with rush hour traffic and many lights. 41 is two lane and invariably you will follow a driver slower than you would like to go with limited passing opportunities. You will also get into traffic lights as you near the Marco area.

Myer's advise is exactly correct. There is no fun solution. Probably less risk going the turnpike to 75.

I don't like Rt 41. For long stretches it's one lane each direction, as sw73 said. I'm not concerned about getting stuck behind a slow driver. More bothersome is all the oncoming car and truck traffic zipping by you at 130-140mph combined speed. You really need to stay alert and I feel drained when I get to Naples.

The drive along the interstate is far less tiring.

I worry about going to sleep on the Interstate, so I prefer 41. Driving it after dark is somewhat fraught as one worries about critters on the highway.

Both routes stink as far as getting out of Miami, but if you land at 4 on time, it will take you an hour or so to get your bags and rental car, so you won't have as much traffic as you might arriving an hour earlier.

That is what we thought, but we probably won't be out until after 5. We will have a SAT Nav, but we always like to know where we are going ! would it be best to wait until 5.30. We were going to fly across, but there isn't a flight in to Ft Myers until nearly nine.

I do it fairly often and MUCH prefer 41 to I-75. But to correct one post above -- that is the Tamiami Trail and was never called Alligator Alley which is right where it always was, just converted to an interstate from the old two lane Alligtor Alley.

Even in the busy season, I rarely get stuck behind a slow car and it won't take long before you can pass as there is lots of straightaway. And I rarely see trucks on that road either. You can stop about half way for a quick look at the amazing Clyde Butcher Gallery (he's been called the new Ansel Adams) for his amazing photography. And a nice walk is the Storter Boardwalk just west of that -- into the heart of the pretty cypress swamp about a mile long.

Tiring is different to different people. MANY drivers have crashed, falling asleep at the wheel on that long straight boring Alligator Alley. I never hear of that happening on 41.

There won't be much difference between 5 and 5:30 -- just go when you can and be prepared to sit in traffic getting away from the airport and going in either direction for awhile.

About what time will it get dark early May please?

Just remembered NeoPatrick, aren't you the helpful person who advised on Naples restaurants. Found it really helpful last visit, Thank you.

That might be me, yes.

And duh. I just realized it will be too late for either the Clyde Butcher gallery or the boardwalk if you are leaving Miami at 5 or so.

I worked around there for 6 months about 10 years ago. The traffic didn't let up on week days until about 8PM.

Unless you really know your way around, I would just take the route I suggested and live with it.