How far is Fort Myers Beach, FL from Gainesville, FL?

The driving distance from Fort Myers Beach, FL to Gainesville, FL is about 269.1 miles (433.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 222.2 miles (357.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 20m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
269.09 mi
04h 10m
Flight
222.2 mi
357.6 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fort Myers Beach.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
222.2 mi
Kilometers
357.6 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
269.09 mi
Kilometers
433.06 km
Drive Time
04h 10m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Gainesville
Sat, Apr 18, 3:37 PM EDT
Return by in Fort Myers Beach
Sat, Apr 18, 7:47 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fort Myers Beach
2026-04-18T11:26
Arrive Gainesville
Sat, Apr 18, 3:37 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:10 AM to 12:10 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:40 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fort Myers Beach
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Riverview
FL

A city in Hillsborough County, Florida.

From Fort Myers Beach
134.2 mi
02h 05m
To Gainesville
134.8 mi
02h 05m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Fort Myers Beach Weather
FL
Live fallback forecast
85°F
Saturday
Using Sanibel as the closest live forecast in the Lee County weather hub.

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SSE
Destination
94°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 8 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Fort Myers Beach and Gainesville.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fort Myers Beach and Gainesville.

  1. 1

    Start on Carolina Avenue

    600 ft · 31 sec · Carolina Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Estero Boulevard

    1872 ft · 1 min · Estero Boulevard

  3. 3

    Continue on San Carlos Boulevard

    3.1 mi · 6 min · San Carlos Boulevard

  4. 4

    Turn right

    1682 ft · 1 min

  5. 5

    Turn straight onto Summerlin Road

    3.6 mi · 6 min · Summerlin Road

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Gladiolus Drive

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Gladiolus Drive

  7. 7

    Continue on Ben C Pratt Six Mile Cypress Parkway

    7.8 mi · 12 min · Ben C Pratt Six Mile Cypress Parkway

  8. 8

    Take the ramp slight right toward Colonial Boulevard East Bound

    1318 ft · 38 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    67 m · 8 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Colonial Boulevard

    1709 ft · 35 sec · Colonial Boulevard

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight left toward I 75 North: Tampa, I-75 North

    2017 ft · 49 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    237.7 mi · 4 hr 16 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward CR 234: Micanopy

    1213 ft · 32 sec

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Southeast County Road 234

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Southeast County Road 234

  15. 15

    Turn left

    128 m · 15 sec

  16. 16

    Turn straight

    8 mi · 10 min

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Southwest Williston Road

    2889 ft · 1 min · Southwest Williston Road

  18. 18

    Turn left onto South Main Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · South Main Street

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Main Street

    28 m · 2 sec · South Main Street

  20. 20

    Exit the roundabout onto South Main Street

    1317 ft · 32 sec · South Main Street

  21. 21

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Main Street

    54 m · 4 sec · South Main Street

  22. 22

    Exit the roundabout onto South Main Street

    2512 ft · 1 min · South Main Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Fort Myers Beach and Gainesville.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
23 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
2 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75 North
238 mi · 88%
Ben C Pratt Six Mile Cypress Parkway
7.76 mi · 3%
Summerlin Road
3.57 mi · 1%
San Carlos Boulevard
3.1 mi · 1%
South Main Street
2.39 mi · 1%
Gladiolus Drive
1.47 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 75 North

Merge slight left

238 mi · 04h 16m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 10m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+46.9 mi
222.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Riverview
02h 05m from Fort Myers Beach
Leave By
8:40 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Fort Myers Beach and Mostly Sunny near Gainesville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Fort Myers Beach to Gainesville?

The road trip is about 269.1 miles (433.1 km) and usually takes 04h 10m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Riverview is a useful midpoint, sitting about 134.2 miles from Fort Myers Beach and 134.8 miles from Gainesville.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 222.2 miles (357.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.9 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:40 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.36 one way or $78.73 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 84.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Fort Myers Beach and Mostly Sunny near Gainesville.

Stop Ideas Near Riverview

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Riverview, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Riverview.

RAIL

Union Station

16 mi away
601 North Nebraska Ave
BUS

St Petersburg-Pinellas Park-Clearwater, Florida

35 mi away
5251 110th Avenue North
RAIL

Lakeland

42 mi away
600 East Main Street
RAIL

Lakeland

42 mi away
600 East Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fort Myers Beach and Gainesville. Straight-line distance: 222.2 mi (357.6 km).

Fort Myers Beach

#1 Fort Myers Beach

Town of the United States

Population7,117
Coordinates26.4527100, -81.9501100
Altitude1
CountryUnited States
Gainesville

#2 Gainesville

The third most populous city in Florida.

Population135,004
Coordinates29.6516300, -82.3248300
Altitude54
CountryUnited States
Start: Carolina Avenue (-81.949656, 26.452716)
End: South Main Street (-82.32501, 29.65163)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 433 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 43m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 22m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 50m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 21m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.49 gal
35.94 L · about $39.36
Round trip
$78.73
18.98 gal · 71.88 L
Estimated CO2
84.3 kg one way
Round trip: 168.7 kg / 372 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $39.36 $78.73
Mid-grade $4.60 $43.62 $87.23
Premium $4.90 $46.46 $92.93
Diesel $4.35 $41.28 $82.56

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Florida · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Fort Myers Beach and Gainesville. The current time is 11:26:41.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.