Southwest Florida International Airport Guide

Contact information and flight status

• flylcpa.com; 239-590-4800; staffed 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
• Terminal maps
• Current departures
• Current arrivals

Checkpoint savvy

Busiest times: 10 a.m. to noon and 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., during the winter season.

Workarounds: None, each concourse has its own checkpoint.

Parking

Parking information: 239-768-6296.

Most convenient: Short-term parking garage, $18/day; free for first 20 minutes.

Least expensive: Long-term parking, $11/day; first week rate, $60; daily rate after first week, $4/day. Shuttle to airport.

Cellphone lot: Located in the median on the airport’s main entrance road, Terminal Access Road, at Airport Plaza; 75 spaces. Amenities include on-airport gas station and convenience store, restrooms, flight information display screens, free Wi-Fi and charging stations, car wash, etc. Please note: Parking in short-term garage is free for the first 20 minutes.

Transportation to/from city

Most convenient: A taxi to downtown Fort Myers will cost $35 and take about 25 minutes. Rates are set by zones. See more options.

Least expensive: Lee Tran Bus #50 (Southwest Florida International Airport/Summerlin Square); transfer to #140 for downtown. Fare, $3. Travel time: one hour. See more options.

Wi-Fi and charging stations

Free Wi-Fi (RSWiFly) is available throughout the airport.

Power outlets and charging stations are located throughout the terminal and concourses, including on seating in airline gate areas.

Go local

Good choice for local gifts: Books and Sanibel Bean (Concourse B and D) or The Shell Factory (Concourse C). See more options.

Good choice for local food: Shula's Bar & Grill (main terminal; pre-security), Palm City Market (Concourse D), Beach Boardwalk Café (Concourse B). See more options.

Tips and tidbits

Southwest Florida International Airport has designated Animal Relief Areas at both ends of the terminal building on the lower level (near the gazebo and loading dock) or across the street from Baggage Claim on the lower level near the parking garage. Artwork in the terminal includes large-scale photographs of Southwest Florida beaches, flora and fauna by official state photographer Alan Maltz and other rotating art displays throughout the terminal.

Nearby layover option

Visitors can find food and shopping opportunities one mile south of the airport at Gulf Coast Town Center, including a movie theater. Bell Tower Shops, with a 20-screen movie theater, is 9 miles away. Downtown Fort Myers historic district is 14 miles away. The Edison & Ford Winter Estates are 15 miles away.

Your tips and picks?

Please share your time- and money-saving tips, favorite restaurants, bars and stores in comments below.

These guides are written by Harriet Baskas, who is the author of six books, including the airport guidebook Stuck at the Airport and a blog of the same name.