The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel Fact Sheet

LOCATION: Southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast, between Naples and Sarasota (Lee County, between Collier and Charlotte counties).

AREAS OF INTEREST: Sanibel & Captiva Islands, Fort Myers Beach on Estero Island, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs & Estero, Cape Coral, Pine Island, Boca Grande & Outer Islands (Cabbage Key, Useppa Island, Cayo Costa State Island Preserve), North Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres.

GEOGRAPHY: 652,000 acres, total land area
590 miles of shoreline
50 miles of white sand beaches
100 plus barrier and coastal islands/Gulf of Mexico

AVERAGE ANNUAL AIR TEMPERATURES:
74.4 F/23 C average annual temperature
84.1 F/29 C average annual high temperature
64.7 F/18 C average annual low temperature

MONTHLY AIR TEMPERATURES:
Month High Low
January 74.4F 53.2F
February 75.5F 54.1F
March 80.0F 58.7F
April 84.6F 62.0F
May 88.8F 67.6F
June 90.6F 72.9F
July 91.4F 74.6F
August 91.4F 74.8F
September 90.0F 74.2F
October 86.0F 68.5F
November 80.7F 60.9F
December 76.0F 55.0F

AVERAGE ANNUAL WATER TEMPERATURES:
77.5F average annual temperature
70.8F average fall/winter temperature
84.1F average spring/summer temperature
66.0F average winter low temperature
87.0F average summer high temperature

POPULATION:
521,253 residents in Lee County
57,585 residents in City of Fort Myers
6,335 residents on Sanibel Island
132,379 residents in City of Cape Coral
6,945 residents in Town of Fort Myers Beach
41,070 residents in City of Bonita Springs
276,939 residents in Unincorporated Lee County
2 million visitors annually

AIRPORTS: Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), southeast of Fort Myers, serves Lee, Charlotte and Collier counties. Opened in 1983, it is the central gateway to southwest Florida for most major domestic carriers and several international charter operations (see our visitor’s guide: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel magazine). The airport’s new and improved Midfield Terminal opened in 2005. Smaller craft fly into Page Field General Aviation Airport, near downtown Fort Myers.

MAJOR ACCESS ROADS:
Interstate 75 and U.S. 41 north-south
Alligator Alley and U.S. 41 east-west (east of Naples)

MILEAGE FROM FLORIDA CITIES:
Miami 148 miles (2½ hours drive time)
Orlando 167 miles (3½ hours drive time)
Tampa 134 miles (2½ hours drive time)
Daytona 219 miles (4¼ hours drive time)
Jacksonville 311 miles (6 hours drive time)

PEAK SEASON: Jan. 15 through April. (Rates are generally 30 to 60 percent lower during off-peak vacation season, excluding holidays.) Reservations are essential during peak season.

HOTEL/MOTEL & CONDOMINIUM/RESORT ACCOMMODATIONS: More than 20,000 rooms range from inexpensive motels to idyllic cottages to condominiums and full-service resort properties.

CAMPING: More than 3,500 campsites, countywide may be found in the Lee County area’s 29 RV parks equipped with electrical & sewer hookups, as well as 13 RV parks with spaces for tent camping.

GOLF: 1,549 holes on 95 courses in southwest Florida include 47 public courses and semi-private courses.

MARINAS: 31 marinas, half of which offer boat rentals or charters.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, University of Florida & Lee County Economic Development Office