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Or they could have taken the Turnpike further south to Miami, which is definitely the long way. But still a lot shorter than going to Naples first!

One guy on another thread said there is a confusing turnoff from I-75 near Orlando that can screw you up and send you to Naples. I never noticed it, but maybe somebody currently in Florida can validate this.

One guy on another thread said there is a confusing turnoff from I-75 near Orlando that can screw you up...

The Florida Turnpike (AKA the Ronald Reagan Memorial Expressway) meets I-75 North of Tampa. I-75 goes south to Tampa and the Turnpike goes southeast through Orlando, and from there south to Miami. If you miss the Turnpike exit off I-75 you will eventually get to Miami via Naples.

It is conceivable that they just missed their exit. There was a time that the Turnpike was the only good way to get to Miami from I-75, but since I-75 has been completed through to Miami, either way is good. I personally use Alligator Alley and I-75 between Boca and Tampa because of the quality of the roads and the fact that it is interstate the whole way.

The turnpike is the best way to get here from there, but not the only good way.

The connection from I-75 to get on the turnpike takes you toward Orlando, but it's about an hour from the connection to Orlando. To Tampa is straight on 75- to the Florida Turnpike is to the left. Kind of a fork in the road that is well identified. The turnpike takes you to about Ft. Pierce on the east coast where you would connect with I-95 south to Miami.

Driving to Naples then across Alligator Alley is tantamount to walking the perimeter of Home Depot to the entrance instead of cutting across the parking lot.