Day Trippin' › Florida › From Tampa › J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge
The drive from Tampa to J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge takes about 2 hr 33 min (south of Tampa), by real roads from ZIP 33602. Along the way we found 60 stops within a short detour: 13 coffee shops, 2 bakeries, 8 ice cream and treats and 25 places to eat.
The list below is the best few of each kind, in driving order, with how far into the drive you reach each one (counted from Tampa) and the detour it adds. Stops marked Our pick are chosen by us; the rest come from OpenStreetMap listings, so confirm hours before you count on them.
Photo: Mathisen, Jim (USFWS), Public domain
Wildlife
Drive, bike or walk a four-mile loop on Sanibel past roseate spoonbills, pelicans and wading birds.
Heads-up: Visitor center 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Fridays and federal holidays. Best at low tide. Sanibel causeway has a toll.
First third Middle third Last third J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge
About 2 hr 33 min by road, heading south from the middle of ZIP 33602. Traffic and weather change that.
Good ones to start with: The Veranda (Fort Myers). The page lists 27 in all, in driving order.
The Local Brew Company in Ruskin, Starbucks in Ellenton, Popi's Plce on the Ranch in Eastgate and Starbucks in Lake Sarasota. Check hours first; they come from OpenStreetMap listings.
Woody's River Roo Pub & Grill in Ellenton, Joey D's in Sarasota, Firehouse Sports Grill in North Fort Myers and The Veranda in Fort Myers.
Sundial in Ellenton, Daughters Memorial in Ellenton, Founder's 50 Monument in The Meadows and Observation Mound in Tatum.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Stops come from our own picks and OpenStreetMap listings; hours and detours change, so check before you go. We do not store anyone's location.