Car rental Punta Gorda Airport (PGD)

When you rent a car at Punta Gorda Airport, the heart of the city is just on your doorstep, via Airport Road.

A bit further afield – north along Interstate 75 (I-75) – are south west Florida’s main attractions and cities like Sarasota, home to beautiful beaches and famous cultural venues. I-75 then continues to Tampa, Ocala and Gainesville, before heading north to the border with Georgia.

In the other direction, the I-75 heads south towards Fort Myers, less than 50km away. From here, follow it towards Naples or inland into the Everglades National Park.

Other key routes include US Route 41, which runs through the centre and leads north-west to Venice and south to Fort Myers, and US Route 17, heading north-east towards Kissimmee and Florida’s theme park capital Orlando, just over 200km away.

Punta Gorda was designed with cars in mind, and features well-maintained highways and clear road signs. There are also many cycle and pedestrian paths running through the city. 

The rules for driving in Punta Gorda and the rest of Florida are similar to other US states. Drivers must use the right-hand side of the road, and all children under the age of five must use a child car seat. The speed limit on four-lane highways is 65mph (104km/h) and this falls to 60mph (96km/h) on most other state highways.

Punta Gorda has long been a popular visitor destination thanks to its historic downtown and waterfront shops and restaurants. When you rent a car at Punta Gorda Airport, you’ll also have the chance to explore this and some other great destinations nearby.

Harbour highlights

A great place to start your visit to Punta Gorda is Fisherman’s Village, a waterfront shopping mall and resort built on the City Pier where the Peace River enters Charlotte Harbour. It has a great selection of boutique stores and restaurants with excellent views of the river. Live music and other events often take place here.

Fishermen’s Village has some excellent water sports facilities if you’re keen to try paddle boarding or kayaking during your stay. But if these aren’t your thing, there are plenty of other ways to get out in the water. Hop on a boat to enjoy a tour of the harbour or one of the nearby islands, or book a spot on one of the fishing excursions that depart from the village.

History and culture

Once you’ve taken in everything on offer at Fishermen’s Village, head inland to the city’s historic district where you’ll find some excellent galleries and museums to explore. Visit the AC Freeman House Museum to experience an authentically restored late Victorian-era home or try the Military Heritage Museum, where you can see fascinating exhibitions on conflicts dating back to the Spanish-American War.

For car enthusiasts, a trip to Muscle Car City Museum is a real must. Housed within a former Wal-Mart store, it will transport you back in time with hundreds of vintage models on show, offering a captivating glimpse into the US motor industry and its past.

Meet the animals

Florida is home to some fascinating wildlife, and Peace River Wildlife Center is a great place to learn about the local inhabitants. It takes in injured and orphaned animals, which are rehabilitated by volunteers before being released back into the wild.

Any animal that can’t be released is given a home here. Entry is free, but donations are welcome. If you visit at the right time of day, you can enjoy the entertaining spectacle of the resident pelicans being fed.

Another top attraction for animal lovers is Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary and Rehabilitation Centre, which provides a home to abandoned and abused exotic wildlife. Residents include lions, bears, monkeys and tigers, all of which have been rescued from captivity and given a home for life.

With car rental at Punta Gorda Airport, you’ll find some great day trip destinations on your doorstep. From the beautiful beaches of Fort Myers to the variety of museums, you can experience all this and more with ease.