Fort Myers Live Cam
The Caloosahatchee River after Hurricane Ian — watch the historic Edison Bridge live
What You're Watching
This camera shows the Caloosahatchee River from or near the historic Edison Bridge (formally the Caloosahatchee Bridge) that connects downtown Fort Myers with North Fort Myers. The view captures river traffic — fishing boats, pleasure craft, and occasional commercial vessels — moving between the Gulf of Mexico and the river's interior. The camera became notable after Hurricane Ian struck in September 2022, showing the area's recovery in real time. The bridge and the surrounding waterfront were significantly impacted by the storm surge.
Best Times to Watch
| Time / Period | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Morning 7–10am ET | Fishing boats heading downriver to the Gulf; best light on the water |
| Weekends year-round | Highest leisure boat traffic on the Caloosahatchee |
| Winter (Nov–March) | Peak snowbird season; most active period for Fort Myers boat traffic |
| Sunset (6–8pm ET) | Western-facing river catches dramatic Gulf Coast sunsets |
| Hurricane season (June–Nov) | Check conditions before and after tropical weather events |
Quick Facts
- 📍 Location: Caloosahatchee Bridge, Fort Myers, Lee County, Florida, USA
- 🕐 Timezone: ET — EST (UTC-5) in winter, EDT (UTC-4) in summer
- 🌡️ Climate: Subtropical; avg 17°C (63°F) in January, 32°C (89°F) in July
- 🌉 Bridge built: 1931; named Edison Bridge after Thomas Edison, who had a winter home in Fort Myers
- ⚡ Fun fact: Thomas Edison's winter estate and laboratory is still preserved in Fort Myers less than a mile from this bridge — his original banyan tree there is one of the largest in the continental US
History & Context
The Caloosahatchee Bridge — popularly known as the Edison Bridge — was completed in 1931 and named in honour of Thomas Edison, who had maintained a winter home and working laboratory in Fort Myers since 1885. At the time of its construction, it was one of the longest reinforced concrete bridges in the United States, a significant engineering achievement for a region that was still largely frontier.
Edison himself had died that same year, in October 1931, making the naming a tribute rather than a dedication. His Fort Myers estate, now a museum, sits less than a mile from the bridge's south end. Edison's presence in Fort Myers drew other notable winter residents — Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone among them — and helped establish Lee County as a destination for wealthy Americans escaping northern winters, a pattern that continues to drive the region's economy.
The bridge and the Caloosahatchee waterfront were heavily damaged when Hurricane Ian made landfall near Fort Myers Beach in September 2022 as a Category 4 storm — one of the costliest hurricanes in Florida history. The storm surge along the river exceeded 12 feet in some areas, destroying boats, docks, and waterfront structures. The camera view in the aftermath of Ian became a document of the recovery: returning boat traffic, rebuilt docks, and the gradual restoration of the waterfront that had defined the city for a century.
Nearby Cameras
- Miramar Beach Cam — ~90 miles northeast — Destin/Miramar area on the Panhandle
- Key West Front Street Cam — ~130 miles southeast — southernmost point of the US
- Hillsborough River Cam — ~115 miles north — Tampa waterfront
