Distance: Naples, FL to Barstow, CA — Coast-to-Coast Diagonal

The driving distance from Naples, Florida (Gulf Coast) to Barstow, California (Mojave Desert, I-15/I-40 junction) is approximately 2,500 miles (4,023 km).

Route & Time

• Primary Route: I-75 N (Naples → Fort Myers → Tampa → Ocala → Lake City) → I-10 W (Lake City → Jacksonville → Tallahassee → Pensacola → Mobile → New Orleans → Houston → San Antonio → Fort Stockton → Van Horn) → I-20 W / I-10 W → I-25 N? No — better: I-10 W all the way to Las Cruces → I-25 N? Actually: I-10 W to Tucson → I-19? No. Best: I-10 W from Jacksonville to Las Cruces, NM → I-25 N to Albuquerque → I-40 W to Barstow. Or: I-10 W to Phoenix → I-17 N → I-40 W to Barstow.
• Simpler: I-75 N to I-10 W (Lake City) → I-10 W all the way to CA (Phoenix, Indio) → CA-60? No — I-10 W to I-215 N? Standard trucker route: I-75 N → I-10 W → I-40 W (from Las Cruces or Flagstaff) → Barstow.
• Driving Time: 36–40 hours pure driving. 3–4 days realistic.

Key Waypoints

• Naples → Fort Myers (30 mi)
• Tampa / Orlando area (I-4 junction)
• Lake City (I-10 W begins)
• Tallahassee, Pensacola, Mobile, New Orleans (I-10)
• Houston (I-10 / I-45)
• San Antonio (I-10 / I-35)
• Fort Stockton / Van Horn (TX/NM border)
• Las Cruces, NM (I-10 / I-25)
• Albuquerque (I-40 W)
• Flagstaff, AZ (I-40 / I-17)
• Kingman, AZ (I-40 / US-93)
• Barstow (I-40 / I-15 junction)

Alternatives

• Fly: RSW (Fort Myers) → LAX / ONT / LAS → drive 2 hrs to Barstow. 5–6 hrs total.
• Train: Amtrak Silver Service (NYC-Miami) + Sunset Limited (NO-LAX) — 3+ days, not direct.

Vehicle Prep

Desert crossings (West TX, NM, AZ, CA): Check coolant, tires (heat), AC, spare, water (1 gal/person/day), fuel in remote stretches (100+ mi services).