With a population of 6,469, Sanibel is a must-see destination in Florida, United States. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 2 days in order to fully appreciate everything Sanibel has to offer.
Although Sanibel doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to SW Florida Intl Airport (RSW), which is located 17 miles from Sanibel. Sarasota Bradenton Intl is the most popular, with regular flights from Air Canada, United Airlines, JetBlue and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Sanibel departs from Raleigh and takes around 2h.
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Sanibel.
Another option to get to Sanibel is to pick up a car rental from Orlando, which is about 150 miles from Sanibel. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Value Car Rental, among others, in Orlando.
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Sanibel, including FlixBus, Greyhound and RedCoach. From Naples, the bus ride to Sanibel takes 55 miles and will cost you around $7. From Tampa, the ticket costs about $55 for a journey of 155 miles.
Average rates range from around $380 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $484 and up for a 5-star experience.
Expect to pay $3.79 per gallon in Sanibel (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $45.42 and $60.57. The most frequently booked car type in Sanibel is Full-size (Jeep Compass or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Toyota Yaris or similar) are, on average, 66% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.