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    The Everglades, a popular day trip from Fort Myers, Florida

    Day trips from Fort Myers

    Day Trip from Fort Myers to the Everglades

    Photo by evergladesnps via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

    Last updated Reviewed by Michael Torres

    Drive time

    1 hour 30 minutes

    Distance

    75 mi

    Typical cost

    $50–$90 per person (tour included)

    Best season

    December–April (dry season, best wildlife density)

    Best for: Airboats, alligators, stone crab, and wilderness scale

    How to get there

    I-75 south to exit 80 (SR-29), then south into Everglades City. The Tamiami Trail (US-41) route is slower but passes Big Cypress National Preserve and several boardwalks.

    Hour-by-hour itinerary

    1. 8:00amDepart Fort MyersEarly start beats both the heat and the afternoon storms.
    2. 9:45amAirboat or mangrove tourEverglades City operators run 60–90 minute trips into the Ten Thousand Islands.
    3. 12:00pmStone crab lunchEverglades City is the stone crab capital; season runs mid-October to early May.
    4. 1:30pmBig Cypress Bend BoardwalkFakahatchee Strand — old-growth cypress and a resident bald eagle nest.
    5. 3:30pmReturn via US-41Stops at Kirby Storter Roadside Park and the Oasis Visitor Center gator canal.

    Highlights

    • Ten Thousand Islands airboat tour
    • Stone crab season
    • Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk
    • Fakahatchee Strand
    • Oasis Visitor Center

    Tips from our editors

    • Dry season (December–April) concentrates wildlife around remaining water — far better sightings
    • Bring insect repellent regardless of season; summer mosquitoes are genuinely severe
    • Airboats are loud — most operators provide ear protection, but bring your own for children

    Book a guided The Everglades tour

    Prefer not to drive? Compare guided day tours departing the Fort Myers area.

    Browse The Everglades Tours

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    Frequently asked questions

    How far is the Everglades from Fort Myers?

    Everglades City, the nearest major Everglades gateway, is about 75 miles and 90 minutes south of Fort Myers. Everglades National Park's main Homestead entrance is far further, roughly 3.5 hours away.

    Can you see alligators on a day trip from Fort Myers?

    Yes, reliably. Airboat tours from Everglades City almost always produce alligator sightings, and you can also see them for free much closer to home at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers.

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