ÇàÇà²ÝÊÓÆµ

Where is Sanibel Island, Florida - Location Map, Travel Info, Facts, Places to visit, Travel Info

Written by | Updated On: March 13, 2026, 13:58 ET

Sanibel is an island and city in Lee County in southwestern Florida, U.S., about 20 miles (30 km) southwest of Fort Myers.

Sanibel Island Location Map, Florida

Where is Sanibel Island Located
About Map: The map showing the map showing location of Sanibel Island in the United States.

Where is Sanibel Island Located?

Sanibel Island, located along the Gulf of Mexico, west of Fort Myers, Florida. Sanibel Island is a city incorporated in the year 1974 and located in Lee County, Florida, United States. It is a type of barrier island which means that it has a dune system with flat or lumpy areas of sand that forms due to wave and tidal action. The east end of the island has proper cities and approximately half of the island is made up of wildlife refuges. The island is a very popular destination for tourists because of wildlife refuges and shell beaches. J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge is the largest wildlife refuge located on Sanibel Island. Wanting to know more about Sanibel Island then you are at the right place.

Know all about Sanibel Island

  • Major Attractions of Sanibel Island - Sanibel Historical Village, Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, Sanibel Sea School and the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife are some of the major attractions of Sanibel Island.
  • Geographical Details - Sanibel Island spans over a total area of 86.01 km2 out of which 41.90 km2 is land and the remaining 44.10 km2 is water.
  • Demographics of Sanibel Island - According to the census for the year 2020, the total population of this place was 6,828 and there were 3,359 households and 2,273 families. As per the report, the population density of Sanibel Island in 2020 was 454.6 per square mile.
  • Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum - The only shell museum across the globe - Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum is located on Sanibel Island.
  • Climate of Sanibel Island - The island has a "tropical and humid" climate. The coolest temperature is seen from January to April.

Sanibel Island Facts & Information:

CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountyLee County, Florida
LocationSouthwestern Florida
Coordinates:26°26′23″N 82°4′50″W
Settled1884
Incorporated (city)1974
Government TypeCouncil-Manager
Total Area33.21 sq mi (86.01 km2)
Land Area16.18 sq mi (41.90 km2)
Water Area17.03 sq mi (44.10 km2) 48.13%
Elevation3 ft (0.9 m)
Population (2020)7,401
• Density457.42/sq mi (176.61/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) in Summer - UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code33957
Area code(s)239
FIPS code12-63700
Airports near Sanibel IslandThe Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
Cities Near Sanibel IslandFort Myers Beach, FL · Iona, FL · Cape Coral, FL · Cypress Lake, FL · Villas, FL · San Carlos Park, FL · Fort Myers, FL
Websitehttp://www.mysanibel.com/

Most Viewed Florida Links:

Florida MapCounties in FloridaWhere is FloridaCities in Florida
Florida ZipcodesFlorida Area CodesAirports in Florida-
US National ParksUS National MonumentsWorld Heritage Sites in the USLargest Lakes in USA

Best Things to Do in Sanibel Island:

Best Things to Do in in Sanibel Island are South Seas Island Resort, Captiva Island, J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife, Bowman's Beach, Bailey-Matthews National Shell, Sanibel Lighthouse, Lighthouse Beach Park, Gulfside City Park Beach, Sanibel Historical Museum and Village, Turner Beach, Bunche Beach, Blind Pass Beach, North Captiva Island, Tarpon Bay Beach, Alison Hagerup Beach, Sanibel Causeway, Causeway Islands Park, Dunes Golf & Tennis Club, Blind Pass, Picnic Island, San Carlos Island, Bowman's Beach Park, San Carlos Bay - Bunche Beach and more.

Top Places to Visit in Florida

Explore the most popular tourist places in Florida. The list below includes famous beaches, national parks, historic sites, and scenic attractions across the state, along with map locations.

Places (A -F)Places (F - M)Places (M - Z)
List of State Parks in FloridaFort Clinch State ParkMiami Beach
Amelia IslandFort De Soto ParkNaples Beach
Bahia Honda State ParkFort JeffersonPennekamp Coral Reef State Park
Big Cypress National PreserveFort Jefferson Dry Tortugas NPPensacola Beach
Biscayne National ParkFort Lauderdale BeachSanibel Island
Castillo de San MarcosFort Zachary Taylor Historic State ParkSanibel Island
Clearwater BeachGarden KeySiesta Key Beach
Cocoa BeachJohn Pennekamp Coral Reef State ParkSouth Beach
Crystal River Archaeological State ParkKennedy Space Center Visitor ComplexSt Augustine Beach
Daytona BeachKennedy Space CenterSt Augustine Historic District
DestinKey West Butterfly and Nature ConservatorySt Pete Beach
Dry Tortugas National ParkKey WestWalt Disney World Resort Magic Kingdom
Everglades Airboat TourMagic Kingdom ParkWalt Disney World Resort
Florida Keys 

Explore the complete list of places to visit in the United States, including national parks, cities, landmarks, and famous attractions.