W.P. Franklin N
12 mi northeast · US Army Corps of Engineers
Visitors flock to W.P. Franklin Campground for its well-kept facilities and location on the Caloosahatchee River, where campers can fish, boat and take it easy in sunny southwest Florida.
Outdoors
Wildlife viewing and birding near Fort Myers
Refuges, lakes and wild areas near Fort Myers for wildlife viewing and birdwatching.
17places to see wildlife
12 mito the closest
2within 30 miles
Good to know: Early mornings and evenings are best for wildlife; bring binoculars and keep a respectful distance.
Closest picks
J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge
20 mi southwest · Fish and Wildlife Service
J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, on the subtropical barrier island of Sanibel in the Gulf of America along Florida’s west coast, is part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States.
Ortona South
36 mi east · US Army Corps of Engineers
Ortona South is a perfect campground for a quiet, sunny escape to South Florida. The campground is set along the Caloosahatchie River.
Map of all 17 places
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Within 30 miles (2)
W.P. Franklin N
Visitors flock to W.P. Franklin Campground for its well-kept facilities and location on the Caloosahatchee River, where campers can fish, boat and take it easy in sunny southwest Florida.
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Kayaking
J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge
J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, on the subtropical barrier island of Sanibel in the Gulf of America along Florida’s west coast, is part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States.
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Educational Programs
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Motor Boat
- Nature education
30 to 75 miles (7)
Ortona South
Ortona South is a perfect campground for a quiet, sunny escape to South Florida. The campground is set along the Caloosahatchie River.
- Biking
- Birding
- Camping
- Fishing
Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
An amazing world exists within the pristine mangrove-fringed waterways, uplands and freshwater wetlands that can be found only a few miles away from downtown Naples.
- Boating
- Camping
- Diving
- Hiking
- History
- Paddling
- Photography
- Ranger programs
Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge
Established in 1989, Southwest Florida’s Florida Panther National Wildlife is located within the heart of the Big Cypress Basin, encompassing the northern reach of the Fakahatchee Strand, the largest cypress strand in the Big Cypress…
- Birding
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Photography
- Ranger programs
- Wildlife viewing
Gator Head Campground
Gator Head Campground is a primitive campground located within the Bear Island Unit of Big Cypress National Preserve.
- Biking
- Birding
- Camping
- Fishing
- Off Road Vehicle Trails
- Wildlife viewing
Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1996 under provisions of the Arizona-Florida Land Exchange Act of 1988.
- Biking
- Birding
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Non-Motorized Boating
- Wildlife viewing
Lake Okeechobee
As lake, waterway and surrounding countryside, Okeechobee shows the many faces of Florida. A canopy of moss-draped live oaks hides clusters of sabal palms. A tangle of water plants marks the boundary where wetland meets lakeshore.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Water sports
Big Cypress National Preserve
The freshwaters of the Big Cypress Swamp, essential to the health of the neighboring Everglades, support the rich marine estuaries along Florida's southwest coast.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
- Hunting
- Paddling
75 miles and farther (8)
Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge
Egmont Key NWR was designated as a national wildlife refuge in 1974. Egmont Key is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a national wildlife refuge to protect the island’s diverse natural, cultural, and historical features.
- Beach
- Birding
- Boating
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Motor Boat
- Photography
- Ranger programs
Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
The Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1951 under the authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929 with a 50-year license agreement between the State of Florida and the U.S.
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Educational Programs
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hunting
St Lucie South
St. Lucie Campground provides a relaxing camping experience on the St. Lucie Canal, part of the 152 mile Okeechobee Waterway that spans South Florida from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico.
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Hiking
Everglades National Park
Established in 1947 as the first national park created for its biodiversity, Everglades National Park protects 1.5 million acres of wetland, forest, and marine habitats and the native plants and animals that call it home.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Paddling
- Picnicking
- Wildlife viewing
Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area
The Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area (ONA) is part of the Bureau of Land Management’s 27-million acre National Conservation Lands; and the only complete unit east of the Mississippi River.
- Boating
- Diving
- Hiking
- History
- Nature education
- Paddling
- Photography
- Picnicking
Nathaniel P. Reed Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge
Nathaniel P. Reed Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge contains the largest contiguous section of undeveloped beach in Southeastern Florida and is considered one of the most productive sea turtle nesting areas in the Southeastern United…
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Nature education
- Photography
- Ranger programs
- Wildlife viewing
Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge
Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is situated in the Indian River Lagoon estuary, which runs 156 miles down Florida’s eastern coastline.
- Birding
- Boating
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Motor Boat
- Nature education
- Non-Motorized Boating
- Photography
Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge
The Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge stretches across 20.5 miles of beach and shoreline habitat between Melbourne Beach and Wabasso Beach along Florida's east coast in Brevard and Indian River Counties.
- Birding
- Fishing
- Photography
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Fort Myers. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
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More outdoors near Fort Myers
Questions
Where is the closest place for wildlife & birding near Fort Myers?
W.P. Franklin N (US Army Corps of Engineers), about 12 miles northeast of Fort Myers as the crow flies. Next are J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge (20 mi) and Ortona South (36 mi).
Who manages these places?
Federal agencies including Fish and Wildlife Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, National Park Service. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.