Site Navigation Alabama Florida Georgia Louisiana Mississippi North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee     Florida 31 A rural state highway located in southwest Florida, the 36 mile Florida 31 links Arcadia at Florida 70 with the east Fort Myers area at Florida 80. Florida 31 South Florida 31 begins its journey toward the Fort Myers area at Florida 70 on the eastern side of Arcadia. It is a two lane arterial and passes through no major population centers on its entire route. Florida 31 is heavily traveled by dump trucks and 18-wheelers wanting to avoid the more populated areas. Photo taken 01/02/07. DeSoto County 760 stems east from Florida 31 and ventures through several citrus groves on its 6.3 mile trek. The county route ends at Florida 70. Photo taken 01/02/07. Approaching DeSoto County 760A. DeSoto County 760A has a western terminus with U.S. 17 0.65 miles south of the small community of Nocatee. Photo taken 01/02/07. DeSoto County 760A passes through several citrus groves during its five-mile stretch to U.S. 17. Photo taken 01/02/07. First reassurance marker for Florida 31 Southbound after DeSoto County 760A. Photo taken 01/02/07. Florida 31 is completely rural along the entire route between Arcadia and Fort Myers. There are very few residences and businesses along the route. The only major facility along Florida 31 in DeSoto County is the G. Pierce Woods facility one mile south of DeSoto County 760A. The facility was originally known as Carlstrom Field and was used in both world wars as a pilot training facility. Photo taken 01/02/07. Another reassurance marker along the rural route. DeSoto County 763 is approximately two miles to the south of this reassurance shield. Photo taken 01/02/07. Desoto County 763 ties into Florida 31 from the west. The route provides and additional link to DeSoto County 760A. Photo taken 01/02/07. DeSoto County 763 traveres west and curves to the north, ending at DeSoto County 760A 8.28 miles from Florida 31. Photo taken 01/02/07. Reassurance marker south of DeSoto County 763. Photo taken 01/02/07. Florida 31 enters Charlotte County. The intersection with Charlotte County 74 lies 6.3 miles ahead. Photo taken 01/02/07. Much like eastern DeSoto County, Charlotte County is rural in nature with no major communities or urban areas. Florida 31 beelines south through the rural countryside. Photo taken 01/02/07. Approaching the junction with Charlotte County 74. This is the only intersection along Florida 31 with another numbered route in Charlotte County. Charlotte County 74 travels 27 miles, linking U.S. 17 near Punta Gorda with Florida 29 in Palmdale. Photo taken 01/02/07. A set of flashers serve the intersection with Charlotte County 74. There were plans at one time to make Charlotte County 74 a toll facility across the entire length to better accomodate commercial truck traffic between Punta Gorda and the south central part of the state, but it never procured. U.S. 17 lies 14.8 miles to the west. A reassurance marker can be seen just south of the intersection. Photo taken 01/02/07. Florida 31 encounters the Babcock-Webb Wildlife Area about 3.6 miles south of Charlotte County 74. The Babcock-Webb Wildlife Area encompasses 79,013 acres of pristine wildlife. It is also among the last undeveloped expanses of wet pine flatwoods in southwest Florida. Florida 31 acts as the eastern boundary of the wildlife area for 6.5 miles, but provides no direct access. Photo taken 01/02/07. Southbound Florida 31 traversing the last miles of Charlotte County. The land to the east is part of the Babcock Ranch which is one of southwest Florida's largest remaining privately-owned parcels of land. In 2005, a deal was made between Babcock Florida Company and Kitson & Partners. As part of the agreement, Kitson & Partners worked with the state to preserve more than 80% of the ranch while developing a sustainable community comprised of homes, commercial businesses and schools on the remaining portion. Photo taken 01/02/07. Southbound Florida 31 as it enters Lee County. The still undeveloped Babcock Ranch lies to the east. Junction Lee County 78 is two miles to the south. Photo taken 01/02/07. Approaching the junction with Lee County 78. Also known as North River Road, Lee County 78 meanders north of the Caloosahatchee River and crosses Caloosahatchee River State Park and the community of Alva. It also provides access to the W.P. Franklin Campground, site of the Franklin locks along the Caloosahatchee River. The rural county road also serves as a scenic route to La Belle, the county seat of nearby Hendry County. It's counterpart, Florida 78, has its junction with Florida 31 a few miles to the south. Photo taken 01/02/07. Lee County 78 departs Florida 31 for the rural community of Alva, 10.50 miles east. Alva was one of the first settlements in Southwest Florida. Founded by Captain Peter Nelson, Alva was named after the profusion of small white flowers that grew along the bank of the river that beared the same name. In 1903 the first bridge along the Caloosahatchee River was constructed in Alva. Old Bayshore Road breaks off to the right. At one time, Old Bayshore Road carried the Florida 78 banner, until the route was moved to new alignment, namely Bayshore Road. Photo taken 01/02/07. Reassurance marker posted just south of the Lee County 78 intersection. Photo taken 01/02/07. Nearing the junction with Florida 78. Florida 78 (Bayshore Road) continues west of Florida 31, providing a link to Interstate 75 (Exit 143) as well as serving the communities of Bayshore and North Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Matlacha and Pine Island. Photo taken 01/02/07. Lee Civic Center is home to the Southwest Florida and Lee County Fair, usually held at the end of February. The civic center also holds various events throughout the year. Photo taken 01/02/07. Florida 78 serves the city of Cape Coral, the largest metropolitan area in southwest Florida with over 157,000 residents. Within the past few years, most of Florida 78 from just west of Chiquita Boulevard in Cape Coral to Interstate 75 has become a four lane divided arterial, further encouraging commercial sprawl, especially within the city limits of Cape Coral. The state maintained 18.94 mile portion of Florida 78 ends at Burnt Store Road. A second Lee County 78 continues west 5.47 miles into the fishing communities of Matlacha and Pine Island before ending at Lee County 767 (Stingfellow Road). Photo taken 01/02/07. Reassurance marker for Florida 31 south of Florida 78. Downtown Fort Myers is 10 miles from this intersection. Photo taken 01/02/07. Florida 31 crosses the Caloosahatchee River with a short but elevated drawbridge. Named the Wilson Pigott Bridge, this bridge was constructed in 1960 and is the only drawbridge left in service between the Franklin locks and the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River. Prior to the Wilson Pigott Bridge, motorists wanting to get to the south side of the Caloosahatchee River were forced to head east on North River Road (Lee County 78) to Alva, then south to Florida 80. Photo taken 01/02/07. Approaching Florida 80 (Palm Beach Boulevard), Florida 31 is now within a quarter mile of its southern terminus. Photo taken 01/02/07. Florida 80 is a cross-state route beginning in downtown Fort Myers at the interchange with U.S. 41 and ending in Palm Beach at the intersection with A1A. In its transpeninsular trek, the 132 mile long Florida 80 navigates through the towns of La Belle, Clewiston, South Bay, Belle Glade and Wellington. Photos taken 03/03/03 & 01/02/07. Florida 31 silently ends at a traffic signal with Florida 80. The city of Fort Myers lies 9 miles to the west while La Belle, the county seat of Hendry County, lies 20 miles to the east. Hendry County was formed in 1923 from a portion of the then vast Lee County. A shopping center and the Verandah Golf Club prohibits any extension of Florida 31 to points further south. Photos taken 03/03/03 & 01/02/07. Florida 31 North No photos at this time. Page Created February 6, 2009.