Key West to Sanibel Island
 

As part of a major tour of South Florida, we will be going from Key West to Sanibel Island. What would be a good spot approximately half way to stop and spend the night so we can break up this long drive into two segments?

Having done this drive several times, the best and only place to stop is South Beach... it is about four hours from key west(with traffic) and about three hours from Sanibel.... excellent people watching, food, beach, hotels and a must on a "Major tour of Florida"...

Naples is a second choice, but no where near half way...its much closer to Sanibel...

If you are looking into just breaking up the trip for a rest, book at hotel at the top of the Keys. I think there is a Holiday Inn Express in Florida City.

Thanks for the tips. Would it be better to take highway 41 or 75?

How about http://www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com/

Keith

I-75 will be interstate highway straight through the Everglades, and will be faster, but US 41 will take longer (not much, though) and is a little more scenic.

Going back and forth across the state relatively frequently, I've grown to really prefer 41 (Tamiami Trail) over I-75 (Alligator Alley). And if you're coming up from the keys, staying further west on the Turnpike to US 41 is better than getting into all the heavy Miami traffic and going to South Beach, then back out again. As mentioned above, 41 may be a little slower, but not much, and sometimes even quicker if you would hit the heavy traffic on I-75 getting up to Ft. Lauderdale area. Besides, you can stop at the wonderful Clyde Butcher Gallery on the way across 41!

It's really probably a total of 6 hours maximum, so I'd normally do it in one day. But if stopping and then taking 41, I'd probably spend the night at Homestead or Florida City. You'd have time to drive into the Everglades for a while if you wanted to.

Thanks for all the great advice!

Bob