Sanibel and Captiva may be islands, but thanks to the Sanibel Causeway, getting to Captiva Island or Sanibel Island means a short drive and $9 for most vacation goers to cross onto these islands from Ft. Myers. Sanibel is less than an hour from the airport, and without stops, you can reach Captiva in under 90 minutes.
With more than 40 airports offering direct service to Ft. Myers, your first step is to catch a flight to Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Ft. Myers. You can read more about traveling to RSW in our post “Which airlines fly to Ft. Myers?“
How To Get To Captiva Island
When heading to Sanibel or Captiva Islands from Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), you have two main options to get to Sanibel. Both routes are a hair over 24 miles.
Trying to decide your mode of transportation to Captiva Island? Read our posts on RSW ground transportation options and beating the rental car lines at RSW airport.
South Route
The South route is the faster and shorter route, clocking in 40 minutes for the 24.1-mile drive. Leaving the airport, head south on I-75. At Exit 128, get off I-75 and turn right onto Alico Rd and follow the road for 3.3 miles. Turn right onto US-51 and continue for 2.7 miles. Then, turn left onto Gladiolus Rd for 1.2 miles. Turn left onto Summerlin Rd which becomes McGregor Blvd and continue until you reach the Sanibel Causeway.
North Route
The North route is slightly longer, a 42-minute drive for the 24.4-mile route. Take I-75 north, take Exit 131.Head west on Daniel Pkwy for 2.9 miles. Turn left onto 6 Mile Cypress Hwy and follow for 2.9 miles. Continue onto Gladiolus Rd. Turn left onto Summerlin Rd which becomes McGregor Blvd and continue until you reach the Sanibel Causeway.
Baseball fans may want to take this route as JetBlue Park at Fenway South and the CenturyLink Sports Complex are near this route. If you’ve ever wanted to check out the respective Spring Training homes to the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins, a short detour on the Northern route allows you to see both ballparks.
Sanibel Causeway
Thanks to the Sanibel Causeway, the islands are reachable by car without a ferry or without needing to hire a boat to bring you across Pine Island Sound. This saves you time and money, as well as frees you up to explore these islands by car.
The Sanibel Causeway is a toll road. Lee county recently changed its policy and the Sanibel Causeway Toll can no longer be paid in cash. All payments are handled through LeeWay, a vehicle-based transponder system.
Cars without a toll transponder will be billed for tolls via license plate scan. Since most vacation goers will not have a LeeWay transponder, you can expect an extra $3 charge, brining your grand total to $9. Be sure to consult with your rental car agency for payment information as rental companies will often assess you a service charge for tolls.
Sanibel to Captiva
Once you cross the Causeway, drive until you reach Periwinkle Way and take a right. Follow Periwinkle Way until reaching Tarpon Bay Rd and turn right at the stop sign. You’ll quickly reach another stop sign at Sanibel-Captiva Rd. Turn left onto Sanibel-Captiva Rd. and continue north until you reach Captiva Island.
At Blind Pass, the narrow channel that separates Sanibel and Captiva, Sanibel-Captiva Rd. becomes Captiva Dr, the main road on the island. Your end destination will be either on your left or right as you drive up Captiva Dr.
Staying at South Seas Island Resort? Then you’ll need to veer right onto South Seas Plantation Rd., which traverses the northern portion of the island.
Traffic Backups
Getting to Sanibel can sometimes feel like only half the journey from the airport. With one major road, it doesn’t take a lot for traffic to get backed up on Sanibel. This is true of traffic in both directions. Popular destinations, left-turning vehicles, and the occasional traffic cop can quickly cause backups.
South to north, these are the areas you are most likely to see a backup:
- Billy’s Rentals: Billy’s Rentals is located across the street from the bike trail. Between traffic turning into Billy’s and cyclists crossing the street to access the trail, you may encounter a brief delay in this area.
- Jerry’s Foods and Casa Ybel Rd: During peak season, you’re likely to find a traffic control officer directing traffic at this intersection.
- Periwinkle Way and Tarpon Bay Rd: Periwinkle Way ends at a T intersection with Tarpon Bay Rd. This is the only stop sign you will encounter on Periwinkle Way, Sanibel-Captiva Rd, or Captiva Dr. until you reach Andy Rosse Lane on Captiva.
Insider Tip: You can avoid the potential Tarpon Bay Rd backup by turning right onto Palm Ridge Rd and heading north until it becomes Sanibel-Captiva Dr. Palm Ridge is a block before you reach Tarpon Bay Rd.
Heading Back To RSW
When leaving Captiva Island for RSW, simply follow these instructions, but in reverse. Before heading back to the airport, be sure to get one last look at the Gulf of Mexico. If you need a quick lunch, Schnapper’s Hots on Sanibel is a great place to stop.
There are a few important notes to consider before heading to the airport:
- Coffee Lines: The line for Starbucks outside South Seas Island Resort can be massive on Saturday mornings, with everyone getting their caffeine fix before heading to the airport. Latte Da on Andy Rosse Lane will likely be a quicker stop.
- Traffic Backups: Expect the same traffic backups on the way home, with one important addition. Heading home, you will have to turn left at Causeway Blvd in order to cross back to Ft. Myers, so keep this one in mind for heading to the airport.
