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Directions to Gasparilla Villa

Little Gasparilla Island - West Coast of Florida

There are no bridges to the island so your water journey begins at Eldred’s Marina with a 10-minute boat ride across Placida Harbor. The water journey is with either your own boat, a boat you rented or via the island’s water taxi. Your boat arrives at your private dock just a few feet from the villa and your stay in paradise begins.

From Tampa Airport to Eldred's Marina -
Exit the airport and follow signs for Interstate 275 South through St. Petersburg and over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to Interstate 75 South (sign will read Naples). Stay on Interstate 75 South to exit 191 (Northport/Englewood). Turn right (TR) on to River Road off the exit to second light, approx. 5.6 miles (intersection of River Road and US 41). Cross US 41and proceed another 6.6 miles to the second traffic light light after crossing US 41. Turn left onto Pine Street, you will shortly cross SR 776, and your road will become SR 775, Placida Rd. Follow SR 775 for approx. 10.6 miles to Boca Grande Causeway, at a traffic light and turn right. The Public boat dock is to your immediate right and Eldred's Marina follows immediately. The total travel distance from the airport to Eldred's is approximately 101 miles.

From Sarasota Airport to Eldred's Marina-
Exit airport to University Blvd and travel East to Interstate 75 South. Take Interstate 75 South to exit 191 (Northport/Englewood). Turn right (TR) on River Road off the exit to second light, approx. 5.6 miles (intersection of River Road and US 41). Cross US 41and travel for 6.6 miles to the second traffic light light and turn left onto Pine Street, which becomes SR 775. Follow SR 775 for approx. 10.6 miles to Boca Grande Causeway, at a traffic light and turn right. The Public boat dock is on your immediate right and Eldred's Marina immediately follows. The total travel distance from the airport to Eldred's is approximately 53 miles.

From Ft. Myers Southwest Florida Regional Airport to Eldred's Marina-
Take Daniels Parkway West to Interstate 75 North. Take Interstate 75 to exit 179. From the exit go West approximately 5.2 miles to US 41 South. Continue South approximately 2.5 miles and turn right onto SR 776. Take SR 776 approximately 8 miles to the light at the intersection of CR 771. Turn left and follow signs another 8 miles to Boca Grande and Placida. You will pass Gasparilla Marina on the left, turn through a sharp bend to the right and travel several hundred yards to Boca Grande Causeway on the left (at a traffic light). Turn left; the public boat dock is to your immediate right and Eldred's Marina immediately follows. Travel distance from the airport to Eldred's is approximately 60 miles.

From Englewood to Eldred's Marina-
Take SR 775 South for approximately 10.6 miles to Boca Grande Causeway (at a traffic light) and turn right. The public boat dock is to your immediate right and Eldred's Marina follows immediately. From Port Charlotte - take SR 776 to SR 771 to the Boca Grande Causeway in Placida. Turn left onto the Causeway, the public boat dock is to your immediate right and Eldred's Marina immediately follows.

Arrival Information

Grocery Shopping -
Arriving from either Tampa or Sarasota , there is a Publix Super Market in the shopping center located at the intersection of SR 775 and SR 776. There is a Sweet Bay grocery story 4.3 miles further on SR 775. Approx. 2 miles before you reach Boca Grande Causeway there is a Publix Super Market on the left side (this is the most convenient in our opinion).
Grocery Shopping if Arriving from Ft. Myers -
If you have not stopped at any of the grocery stores along the way, then no problem. From the Boca Grande Causeway, go north on SR 775 approximately 2 miles to the Publix on your right.
Water Taxi –
Scenic Cruise & Water is owned by Captain Dick James who is a USCG licensed Captain and Insured. His cell number is 941-662-6084 and his home phone is 941-697-7370. Captain Dick charges $5/person with a $15 minimum. Parking at Eldred’s Marina is $5/day without a trailer.

Boat and GPS Directions to the Villa

Upon leaving the channel at Eldred's Marina, the first day mark can be found by setting a course of magnetic 270 degrees until you are in the inland waterway, which is just a short distance. Just outside the entrance to the marina is a rectangular sign that tells you all areas in Gasparilla Sound are NO WAKE areas, except the inland waterway and the corridor to Little Gasparilla island.

On the left you will see the Boca Grande Bridge. Head to your left in a southerly direction down the waterway towards the bridge. You will be going toward the flashing green marker #23 in the distance, and if you go too far, red #24 will be on your left.

Very soon you will see a corridor of red and green markers beginning with #1 and #2 on your right. Between Red 4 & 6 the water is shallow, stay in the south half of the channel, it can get very low toward the north side of the channel. At green #7 and red #8, you will make a right angle turn to your right (North). At red #14 is a rectangular information sign indicating a manatee zone, and you MUST stay minimum wake, or 5 MPH, after the sign. Put this sign to your starboard side when passing.

GPS Coordinates
Red 24A N26 degrees 50.034' W 082 degrees 16.579'
Red 24 N26 degrees 49.715' W 082 degrees 16.389'
Green 23 N26 degrees 49.664' W 082 degrees 16.389'
Between Green 1 and Red 2 N26 degrees 49.796' W 082 degrees 16.507'
Between Green 7 and Red 8 N26 degrees 49.691' W 082 degrees 16.957'
Your heading when you are between G1 and R2 will be 250 degrees all the way to marker 7 & 8. Once you pass red 8, head north.

Follow the docks in a northerly direction, and near the north end of the line of docks you will see dock #96 with a 3 inch hawser rope draped on the south edge of the dock for decoration. You have arrived.

Welcome to the islands Mon!
If you island mates are not on the dock, go upstairs and make yourselves at home. They will be along as soon as they can, to give you a short guided tour.

The speed zones are to protect our manatees, which we like, and not just obey the law.

You may contact Jib and/or Teresa Davidson, Gasparilla Villa Manager at 1-352-538-2266 (cell),
1-352-375-1473 (office)
jibteresa@gasparillavilla.com
6425 NW 54th Way, Gainesville, Fl 32653