Fort Myers Airport (RSW): A Traveler's Guide
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) is a single, compact terminal building feeding three concourses — B, C, and D — so even the longest walk from baggage claim to a gate takes about ten minutes. There's no confusing inter-terminal train or shuttle to worry about: everything, including the small international arrivals area on Concourse D (mostly seasonal flights from Canada and a handful of Caribbean/European charters), sits under one roof.
Arrival and security
Domestic arrivals simply walk down to baggage claim on Level 1. If you're arriving on one of RSW's seasonal international flights, you'll clear a Federal Inspection Station with standard US Customs and Border Protection processing — have your passport and any customs declaration ready, and expect it to move briskly outside of peak snowbird season (roughly December through April), when lines can back up. TSA security for departures is a single unified checkpoint per concourse; arrive at least 90 minutes before a domestic flight and closer to two hours in the winter high season.
Getting into town
There's no passenger rail here — Southwest Florida doesn't have commuter or Amtrak service, so plan on a car. RSW sits about 16 miles (roughly 25 minutes with no traffic) southeast of downtown Fort Myers's River District. Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) and taxi pickup are both on Level 1 outside baggage claim, and a trip downtown typically runs $30–$45 depending on demand and time of day. Rental car counters are in the main terminal, with the actual rental car facility a short walk or shuttle ride away — this is the most practical option if you're headed further afield to Sanibel Island, Naples, or Cape Coral, none of which are realistically reachable by transit. Fort Myers Beach is about 20–25 minutes by car; Naples and Sanibel are each 35–45 minutes depending on bridge traffic (the Sanibel Causeway has a toll).
Practical tips
During peak winter season, both security lines and the cell-phone/rideshare waiting lot fill up fast — build in extra time on both ends of your trip. And if you're driving yourself, note that Sanibel and Captiva require the causeway toll (card or transponder, no cash lanes at this point), so keep a card handy.