I will be driving down to KW from Ft. Myers area with my mother who is nearing 80. Last year, my husband and I did this from Ft. Lauderdale. I dread going through Miami. It seemed very complicated.

Could someone give me some good directions from the Ft. Myers area? Will I take I-75 all the way down to the KW Highway (I think that is Route 1) or will I have to go through that Miami route again?

Thanks for any help you can give....

How about Route 41, its the scenic route. I have never been on it but it might be more enjoyable. Dont know how fast it is but Rt 75 (the Turnpike) is pretty quick no matter what time of day. If you do take 41 you will have to get on the Turnpike and then Route 1 to the Keys.

Opps! sorry did not mean to call the Turnpike Rt 75

Leeann, we live in Lehigh Acres and drove to Key West last March to see our daughter. You can bypass Miami. You can take I-75 (or Rt. 41, but that is busy) to Rt. 29 south to Rt 41 (or I-75) to Rt. 997 (there is a huge Indian casio on the corner) and head south, through Homestead and straight to Rt. 1 to Key West. Very little traffic, not many places to stop. I think it took us about 5 hours because we stopped outside of Homestead for lunch, and made one other pit stop.

I live in Naples. From Ft. Myers, I would get on I-75 and drive south getting off at Route 951 (last exit before entering the toll section -- Aligator Alley) the sign will say to Marco Island. Go down 951 to US 41 and follow it towards Miami. This part of 41 is not only more scenic than I-75, but is not really busy because you will have bypassed the Ft. Myers to Naples traffic. Follow the directions above, turning south at the Indian Casino and following 997 and route l. As an alternate to taking 951 south to 41, you could do as the above poster said, entering the toll section of I-75 and then connecting with 41 via 29. The main point is just don't take 41 down from Ft. Myers through Naples.

I don't know how often the posters above drive Krome Avenue (997), but you will be stopped at numerous lights, get behind numerous slow-moving farm vehicles, and be tail-gated by tractor-trailers. I'm not sure what route you took from Fort Lauderdale to the Keys that made you afraid of Miami (I'm thinking you might have gone to the end of I95 and then took Route 1 all through South Miami/Kendall/Cutler Ridge-gasp!) but if you go I75 to the Florida Turnpike (south) you'll be fine. I can't imagine the turnpike in the southbound direction being confusing, and it will be much much faster than taking 997.