# Port Charlotte

Port Charlotte is a city in Southwest Florida roughly 30 miles north of Fort Myers and 40 miles south of Sarasota on the gulf coast of Florida. Nestled in Charlotte Harbor, visitors can take cruises through the harbor, play a round of mini-golf or swim in the harbor.

## Understand

Port Charlotte was home to about 61,000 people in 2020. Port Charlotte became nationally recognized when, in August 2004, Hurricane Charley took a last minute turn and devastated the area and surrounding city of Punta Gorda.

## Get in

Port Charlotte is accessible by boat, plane or car. Located just off of I-75, Port Charlotte's town center is approximately a 5 minute drive. Visitors can also reach Port Charlotte by traveling along Tamiami Trail (US 41), which runs parallel to I-75. From Tampa, travelers must head south. Fort Myers requires travelers to travel north.

### By plane

By plane, travelers should travel to Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, or travel to Sarasota Bradenton Airport in Sarasota. Both airports are between a 45-minute to 1-hour drive from Port Charlotte.
* Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), 6000 Airport Circle, Sarasota, ☏ +1 941-359-2777. Located on the border between Sarasota and Manatee counties.
* Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), 11000 Terminal Access Road, Fort Myers, ☏ +1 239-590-4800. Located in Lee County.
* Punta Gorda Airport in Punta Gorda offers regularly scheduled commercial flights.

### By car

Port Charlotte has one primary expressway, I-75, which runs north to south. The major roads within Port Charlotte include the Tamiami Trail (which is the name given to US 41 between Tampa and Miami) running north-to-south, and El Jobean Rd/Veterans' Blvd. (FL-776) running east-to-west.

### By boat

By boat, visitors can reach Port Charlotte by entering Charlotte Harbor. However, rental spaces for boats are limited and can be expensive.

## Do

Activities include miniature golf, rentable jet skis or a boat, parks and sailboat races on the weekends, and fishing tournaments.
* 27.0006-82.18331 Charlotte County Fair, 2333 El Jobean Rd, ☏ +1 941-629-4252, ccfair@embarqmail.com. (updated Jun 2021)
* 26.9933-82.18542 Tippecanoe Environmental Park, 2400 El Jobean Rd, ☏ +1 941-613-3220. (updated Jun 2021)

## Buy

* 27.0089-82.14751 Port Charlotte Town Center (at the intersection of Tamiami Trail and Veterans' Blvd). Stores include Bealls, Dillard's, and JCPenney. All together over 50 stores in the mall and the out parcels and surrounding Strip malls have Target, Wal Mart, Office Depot, Staples, Radio Shack, Bealls Outlet and Home stores. Furniture stores galore!

## Eat

Red Lobster, Olive Garden, TGI Fridays, steakhouses and seafood restaurants are here along with all the major fast food places.
* All-Star Sports Grill, 2360 Tamiami Tr, ☏ +1 941 743-4140. Tu–Th Su 7AM–11PM, F Sa 7AM–2AM. (updated Jun 2021)
* 27.0148-82.13281 Prime Serious Steak, 19655 Cochran Blvd, ☏ +1 941-627-8325. Su noon–9PM; M–Sa 4–10PM. (updated Jun 2021)

## Sleep

Port Charlotte is quickly becoming a tourist destination for those who want the convenience of being close to major cities, such as Sarasota, Tampa, Fort Myers, and Naples, yet want a quiet place to relax. Port Charlotte is home to several hotels, including Best Western, and also has a fabulous rental company, Port Charlotte Florida Homebuilders, which rents out hundreds of homes in the cities. These homes have their own private pools and are quite large, ranging from 2000 square feet to 3000 square feet.
* Port Charlotte Microtel Inn & Suites, 4056 Tamiami Tr, ☏ +1 941-787-3348. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Microtel is pleased to be the first economy/budget hotel brand to offer guests free local and free long distance calls in the continental United States, and free wireless high-speed Internet access in every room of its hotels, as well as advance online check-in and check-out with unlimited access to online folio information.
* 27.0177-82.04871 Sleep Inn & Suites Port Charlotte, 806 Kings Highway, ☏ +1 941-613-6300. Check-in: 3 PM, check-out: 11 AM. Sleep Inn and Suites Port Charlotte is located at exit 170 off Interstate 75, next to Cracker Barrel. The hotel offers 78 rooms equipped with 32" flat-panel LCD HDTVs. There is free continental breakfast, access to gym facilities, a seasonal outdoor pool and whirlpool suites. The hotel is pet friendly.