Overview
Pine Island is a largely rural island west of Cape Coral in Southwest Florida known for its mango farms and commercial fishing industry in the Intracoastal Waterway.
2 sights · 6 things to do · 4 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 5 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Pine Island
Calusa Heritage Trail
Until Spanish colonization in the 16th century, Pine Island was controlled by the Calusa, their capital being a few miles to the southeast at Mound Key. The Calusa had a settlement near Pineland on the west coast of the …
Museum of the Islands
Details the history of the island including the Calusa period (corresponding roughly to the Middle Ages) and the modern era of American settlement from the 19th century to the present.
Galt Preserve
A 260-acre forest preserve with several hiking trails.
Pine Island Commercial Marina
Open to recreational boaters on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays.
Pine Island Flatwoods Preserve
This 900-acre park protects Florida's native pine flatwoods biome, necessitating regular, controlled burns. Designated trails and fire lines make up 7.5 mi of trails total that can be hiked across the flatwoods ecosystem…
St. Jude Nature Trail
Short trail connected to a paddling (kayak) route through the mangrove forest.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Oct–Apr. Summer highs reach about 92°F; winter lows dip to about 54°F. Very hot (May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Aug and Jun. (climate data from nearby Fort Myers)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- RSW Southwest Florida International Airport, Fort Myers — 23 mi away (major hub). Directions
- PGD Punta Gorda Airport, Punta Gorda — 24 mi away. Directions
Pine Island Airport, an unpaved airstrip on the island, is not open to the public.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Galt Preserve, St. Jude Nature Trail, Tropical Point Park
- Lunch El Sazón de Leony
- Afternoon Pine Island Flatwoods Preserve, Pine Island Commercial Marina
- Dinner Salty Girls Island Café
- Evening Yucatan Waterfront Tiki Bar & Grill
Day 2
- Morning Calusa Heritage Trail, Wigert-Barron Preserve
- Lunch The Eagle's Nest
- Afternoon Museum of the Islands
- Dinner Blue Dog Bar & Grill
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Unsurprisingly given Pine Island's coastal location and history, the emphasis is on seafood in local cuisine, but with the Florida touch. Expect fish to be served in tacos, with fruit, and a variety of sauces. Some restaurants and grills use local ingredients. Markets sell locally grown tropical fruits and locally caught seafood.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
The island is about 15 mi long and about 2 mi wide. Pine Island Sound separates Pine Island from a series of barrier islands, including Cayo Costa and Captiva Island, which form Florida's western coast on the Gulf of Mexico. Also to the west in the sound are smaller islands such as Cabbage Key and the old Fishing Shacks. Pine Island itself has traditionally been a mango growing region, and there remain several farms that cultivate mangos across the island and sell them in local markets.
Pine Island's climate is tropical, moderated by the waterways and its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. Summers are hot and very humid, while winters are warm and receive moderate precipitation. Winter is the best time to visit, as during the summer and early fall, Southwest Florida is hurricane-prone and vulnerable to flooding due to low elevation.
Villages
- Bokeelia — hamlet on the northern tip of the island; boat docks with an off-the-beaten-path feel
- Matlacha — compact, artsy village on the causeway to the island from Cape Coral; known for its indie art galleries and cottages
- Pine Island Center — shopping malls and amenities at the junction of Pine Island and Stringfellow Roads
- Pineland — a Calusa shell mound site and village on the western shore, with access to Pine Island Sound
- St. James City — at the southern end of the island and the largest settlement; home to boat ramps and seafood markets
Get in
By plane
Pine Island Airport, an unpaved airstrip on the island, is not open to the public.
By car
Pine Island Rd from Cape Coral is the only road access to the island, coming from the east. It passes through Matlacha (in the waterway) and Little Pine Island via Matlacha Pass before coming onto the main Pine Island at Pine Island Center.
There is no direct connection by road from Captiva Island or Sanibel Island.
Get around
By car
A car is needed to travel around Pine Island, as there is no public transit service on the island, and the nearest bus route is in Cape Coral. Stringfellow Rd (County Road 767) follows the entirety of the island from north to south and is the main highway.
By boat
It is possible to kayak through the mangrove swamps on the eastern side of the island, and there are marinas on the western side. That said, for getting around the agricultural parts of the island a car is necessary.
Go Island Girl Charters
Water taxi service from Pineland Marina to surrounding islands including Useppa, Cabbage Key, and North Captiva. You can also book a private charter or sightseeing tour, or book a spot on one of their boats between islands. Reservations can be booked through the website.
See
Old fishing shacks in the Pine Island Sound to the west were constructed on stilts on sandbanks in the early 20th century, and can be visited by boat.
Check out the local ecosystems, which are diverse on the island. It's been shaped by human habitation over the last two hundred years, with agriculture somewhat taking over the local pine flatwood and mangrove environments. That said, much can be seen of the mangroves and other woodlands across the island while driving north or south.
See Calusa Heritage Trail
Until Spanish colonization in the 16th century, Pine Island was controlled by the Calusa, their capital being a few miles to the southeast at Mound Key. The Calusa had a settlement near Pineland on the west coast of the island where they constructed shell mounds and a canal. The trail passes these mounds and displays plaques detailing the pre-Columbian history of Pine Island.
Do
The island has a conservation and outdoorsy culture, with several nature preserves and hiking trails. Some of these trails such as the St. Jude Nature Trail connect to "paddling trails". These are kayaking routes through the mangroves around the island.
Boating is also popular. Marinas and boat launches can be found all over the island for different kinds of boats — from kayaks to yachts. If you have an iPhone, check out the app Calusa Blueways, which provides information and instructions for a 190 mi canoe and kayak route throughout the region. It follows the east coast of Pine Island and crisscrosses the local waterways including around Sanibel.
Buy
Shopping malls with your typical Florida chain stores (Publix/Winn-Dixie) are in Pine Island Center. Otherwise, markets tend to be small and independent.
Eat
Unsurprisingly given Pine Island's coastal location and history, the emphasis is on seafood in local cuisine, but with the Florida touch. Expect fish to be served in tacos, with fruit, and a variety of sauces. Some restaurants and grills use local ingredients. Markets sell locally grown tropical fruits and locally caught seafood.
Eat Blue Dog Bar & Grill
The "food is love" seafood diner in Matlacha, sourcing from local ingredients. Plenty of classic American fare.
Eat El Sazón de Leony
Standard American cuisine, but with some Mexican and Spanish dishes as well, such as paella.
Eat Salty Girls Island Café
American cuisine with shrimp dishes.
Eat The Eagle's Nest
American and Italian cuisine, and seafood. It's allowed to reserve a table online before coming.
Drink
Most of the places here for a night out are bars and grills with views of the water. There are no pubs or nightclubs per se.
Drink Yucatan Waterfront Tiki Bar & Grill
Tiki and sports bar with typical cuisine such as Key West linguine, ahi tuna nachos, and pineapple bowls (not to mention drinks, of course!). Don't miss the views onto the Intracoastal Waterway facing Matlacha and Cape Coral.
Sleep
Lodging
Camping
Backcountry
Parks are closed during the night, and most of the island is used for agriculture or villages, so don't try backcountry camping.
Go next
- Unless you have a boat and can travel the Gulf Coast's waterways, you'll have to return to Cape Coral.
- Across the river from Cape Coral is Fort Myers.
That said, by boat, you have more options. Across the Pine Island Sound are several spots you can visit for a daytrip or even overnight, such as the tiny islets of Cabbage Key and Useppa Island, which have no bridges to land and are therefore car-free. They're home to resorts and hotels, while farther west is Cayo Costa with its own rugged terrain and beaches.
Nearby
Captiva Island
City / town · 7 listings · 7 mi away
Cape Coral
City / town · 17 listings · 10 mi away
Sanibel Island
City / town · 14 listings · 11 mi away
Boca Grande
City / town · 7 listings · 14 mi away
Fort Myers
City / town · 63 listings · 16 mi away
Little Gasparilla Island
City / town · 1 listings · 19 mi away
Punta Gorda
City / town · 13 listings · 23 mi away
Port Charlotte
City / town · 9 listings · 27 mi away
My experience
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