Directions to Marco Island
On the doorstep of the Marco Island to Everglades, sits an island in the Gulf of Mexico called Marco Island. The Island is also a city in Collier County, Florida.
Directions to Marco Island can be confusing but simply stated, the directions are:
- From Tampa to Marco Island it is a little over 3 hours on I-75 south to Collier Blvd. near Naples. It is about 187 miles.
- From Miami to Marco Island take I-75 west to Collier Blvd. about 2.25 hours and 107 miles. Via Tamiami Trail (Rt. 41), it is about the same.
- From Punta Gorda to Marco Island, it is under 1.5 hours and 87 miles.
Where is Marco Island Florida on a Map
Of the 22 square miles considered to be Marco Island, about half is island and the other half is water. Perfect for one of the best places to vacation in Florida.
Inhabited by about 17,000 people, Marco Island’s population swells almost double in the fall and winter months when tourists and part-time residents head for warm weather.
Goodland Marco Island History
Marco Island to Everglades corridor was inhabited by the Calusa Indians until their disappearance in the 19th century due to war with Spain and diseases carried to Florida by Europeans.
The Calusa built their huts on mounds of shells to reach high ground and drainage. Artifacts and a Calusa village recreation can be found at the Marco Island Historical Museum.
It is notable that much of Marco Island’s history was started with the Calusa on Goodland, Florida just off the east coast of Marco Island.
Goodland has not seen the growth that Marco Island has experienced – the locals are happy about that!
Marco Island Family Resorts and Hotels
Numerous hotels and family resorts line Collier Ave. on the Island. Most are beachfront on the Gulf with spectacular sunsets. The wide beaches have soft sand. Our favorite along the beach is the Marriott Beach Resort, probably the most prominent on the beach.
The Marriott has a great Florida tiki bar named Kane’s and a restaurant on the beach called Quinn’s. Both are casual fun places.
Inside the hotel, there are several other restaurants and bars along with a large entertainment/gaming area in their newest tower. Marriott is large and comfortable with a magnificent beach.
Collectively, the Marriott Resort amenities make Marco Island one of the best places to road trip in Florida.
Our second best resort for the family is the Hilton Resort, a few steps west of the Marriott. The Hilton is closer to many of the best restaurants on the island and has a good program for the kids.
Their beach is comparable to the Marriott.
Things To Do On Marco Island to Everglades
On your Florida island vacation to Marco Island, you must visit the Snook Inn. Located on a main waterway encircling Marco Island, the Snook Inn has dozens of secure docks for their boat-loving crowd.
Food at the Snook Inn is above average, but normal Florida fare. Normal is plenty of local seafood. We can attest to entertainment that people enjoy starting at about 2 PM each afternoon.
Hiking, boating, bicycling, sailing, paddleboarding and laying are among the many things to do on Marco Island.
One of the most popular things to do on Marco Island is fishing. Both onshore and offshore fishing charters are available. We highly recommend backcountry fishing trips for redfish, snook and speckled trout.
For entertainment try an airboat in the Everglades (30 minutes away), or fishing charter boat from Marco, and various watercraft rentals and sailing options.
Other restaurants and bars around the Marriott include Marco Prime, NeNe’s Kitchen (breakfast), Marriott Lobby Bar for sushi and The Salty Dog.
Naples, a few miles away, has exceptional upscale shopping. The shops at Marco Island are also quite good.
Marco Island Hurricane Ian
We hope this section can be deleted soon, but Hurricane Ian did some minor damage to Maco Island. The most significant damage we found was at the Snook Inn on Marco Island.
As the time of our latest visit in August 2023, the Snook Inn was continuing to make repairs. All other damage appears to have been completed.
