Transportation

Top-Flight Logistics

Florida boasts one of the top ranked infrastructures in the U.S. (U.S. Chamber of Commerce). In Charlotte County, that starts with a well-maintained network of federal and state highways. There are five exits on I-75; five international airports and four international seaports within a half-day’s drive, including the Port of Manatee sixty miles north for access to the enhanced Panama Canal to reach western U.S. and Pacific Coast markets.

Major Highways

Charlotte County includes four state highways, two federal highways and one federal interstate. Many local industrial parks have direct access to I-75, one of the most important arteries in the nation.

Federal Highways

U.S. Highway 41 (Tamiami Trail)

Named for its two termini in Florida, Tampa and Miami, US 41 extends north all the way to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The highway runs nearly parallel to I-75 with major Florida cities along its route: Miami, Naples, Fort Myers and Tampa.

U.S. Highway 17
A north-south US highway, also known as the Ocean Highway, starts in Punta Gorda, Florida and ends in Winchester, Virginia . It intersects both Orlando and Jacksonville.

Federal Interstate Highways

I-75
I-75 is Charlotte County’s primary thoroughfare with a total length of 1,786 miles, with 470 miles is in Florida stretching from Southeast Florida north to the Florida panhandle. There are 5 exits within the county, not including Exit 179 which falls within Sarasota County but is heavily-used exits by Charlotte County residents.

Source: Florida Department of Transportation

Trucking

There are numerous trucking companies operating out of Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda available to move goods and freight long or short distances. Four major delivery companies—FedEX, UPS, DHL, and the United States Postal Service—provide overnight express service from Charlotte County to anywhere in the world.

Airports

Punta Gorda Airport (PGD), located just three miles from downtown Punta Gorda, completed a multi-million dollar terminal expansion in 2016. Passenger growth has tripled in recent years thanks to major carriers like Allegiant and Sun Country. There are five international area airports within 200 miles, including Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers, 47 miles from the center of Port Charlotte; Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ); Tampa International Airport (TPA); Orlando International Airport (MCO); and Miami International Airport (MIA).

Click here to download our Punta Gorda Destinations Flyer.

Seaports

There are four major seaports within a driving distance of less than 200 miles. The closest, sixty miles to the north near Tampa, is the Port of Manatee. The port is Florida’s deepest port and offers access to the enhanced Panama Canal for trade routes to the western U.S. and Pacific Rim markets. The next closest seaport is the Port of St. Petersburg at 77 miles. The Port of Tampa and the Port of Miami are 90 miles and 189 miles, respectively.

Rail

Charlotte County is serviced by Seminole Gulf Railway (SGLR) with public tracks in Punta Gorda connecting to CSX in Arcadia.