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Trip from Cape Coral, FL to Big Coppitt Key, FL

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 20m

Distance

288.4 mi

464 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$46

one way

EV Charging

Fair

3 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
6h 8m ★
6 AM
6h 21m
8 AM
6h 46m
10 AM
6h 29m
12 PM
6h 27m
3 PM
6h 31m
5 PM
6h 44m
8 PM
6h 13m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Lee County, Florida, United States

Cape Coral, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Big Coppitt Key, FL, FL

Big Coppitt Key, FL

Arian Fernandez

Trip Overview

The drive from Cape Coral, FL to Big Coppitt Key, FL covers 288.4 miles and takes about 6h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 75, Overseas Highway, Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 106.5 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.91 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

144.2 miles from Cape Coral, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 47m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 106.5 mi 1h 54m
Overseas Highway 97.9 mi 2h 33m
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike 34.5 mi 40m
Dixie Highway 19.2 mi 26m
US 27 17.9 mi 22m
Daniels Parkway 4.6 mi 7m
College Parkway 2.9 mi 5m
Cape Coral Parkway East 1.1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 106.5 mi, about 1h 54m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cape Coral, FL and Big Coppitt Key, FL.

1

Start on this road

95 ft · 7 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto Cape Coral Parkway East

125 ft · 9 sec · Cape Coral Parkway East
3

Continue on Cape Coral Parkway East

1.1 mi · 2 min · Cape Coral Parkway East
Use the left lane.
4

Continue on Cape Coral Bridge Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · Cape Coral Bridge Road
5

Continue on College Parkway

2.9 mi · 5 min · College Parkway
Use the left lane.
6

Turn right onto US 41

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Cleveland Avenue
7

Turn left onto CR 876

4.6 mi · 7 min · Daniels Parkway
Use the left lane.
8

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 75 South: Naples
9

Merge onto I 75

107 mi · 1 hr 54 min · I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Toward US 27: Miami, South Bay
11

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 58 sec
Toward US 27 South: Miami
12

Merge onto US 27

9.2 mi · 11 min · US 27
Use the right lane.
13

Keep slight right at fork onto US 27

8.6 mi · 11 min · US 27
Use the straight lane.
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike South: Homestead, Key West
15

Merge onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

35 mi · 40 min · Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
17

Merge onto US 1

19 mi · 26 min · Dixie Highway
Use the left lane.
18

Continue on US 1

98 mi · 2 hr 33 min · Overseas Highway
Use the straight lane.
19

Turn right onto 1st Street

260 ft · 16 sec · 1st Street
20

Turn left onto Avenue F

216 ft · 9 sec · Avenue F
21

Arrive at destination

Avenue F

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 144.2 miles from Cape Coral, FL, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.5 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 63 miles or 1h 15m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 144.2 miles or 2h 47m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 59m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Big Coppitt Key, FL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Cape Coral, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Cape Coral, FL

This is one driving day of about 288.4 miles and 6h 20m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Cape Coral, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 106.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Three Lakes, FL, FL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Three Lakes, FL

144 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Bonita Springs, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Doral, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 144.2 miles from Cape Coral, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 106.5 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

ChargePoint Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour

Cape Coral, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

AmpUp Charging Station

Near the start, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 20.6

Estero, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 20.6

Bonita Springs, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

National Key Deer Refuge Nature Center

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 267.8

Big Pine Key, Florida

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+13058720774

Visit website

Crane Point Hammock

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 247.2

Marathon, Florida

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+13057439100

Visit website

Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 247.2

Marathon, Florida

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+13054073262

Visit website

Everglades Swamp Tours - Airboat Rides Fort Lauderdale

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 103

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+13058490135

Visit website

Blue Hole Observation Platform

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 267.8

Big Pine Key, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Wonder Gardens

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 20.6

Bonita Springs, Florida

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

+12399922591

Visit website

The Overseas Highway

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 206

Key Largo, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 10.8 and 127.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
10.8 mi into trip | ~19m in | I 75

Merge onto I 75

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
117.3 mi into trip | ~2h 13m in

Take the exit toward US 27: Miami, South Bay

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 27: Miami, South Bay
5
117.5 mi into trip | ~2h 14m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 27 South: Miami

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward US 27 South: Miami
5
117.9 mi into trip | ~2h 15m in | US 27

Merge onto US 27

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
127.1 mi into trip | ~2h 26m in | US 27

Keep slight right at fork onto US 27

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$45.91 one way

$91.81 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 101 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $49.94 $99.87
premium $4.72 $53.63 $107.25
diesel $5.61 $63.68 $127.35

Estimated Tolls: $2.07

Homestead Extension (34.5 mi) $2.07

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$46

Tolls

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$73–$98

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 100.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 86.5 1 $30.28 $13.84
Efficient EV 72.1 0 $25.23 $11.54
EV Truck/SUV 115.4 1 $40.38 $18.46

Gas CO2

101 kg

EV CO2

34 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Cape Coral, FL

Afternoon in Cape Coral on Saturday

Local time

2:21 PM

EDT

Current temp

71°F

Mostly Clear

N 3 to 7 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Fire Weather Watch

Fire Weather Watch issued April 17 at 2:19PM EDT until April 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL

Fire Weather Watch

Fire Weather Watch issued April 17 at 2:19PM EDT until April 20 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL

Destination

Big Coppitt Key, FL

Afternoon in Big Coppitt Key on Saturday

Local time

2:21 PM

EDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

1 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

6h 20m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Biscayne National Park

Biscayne National Park

National Park

Within sight of Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Evidence of 10,000 years of human history is here to...

11 mi from route ~28 min detour Free near mile 159.1
Caution: Boater Awareness
View on nps.gov
Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park

National Park

Established in 1947 as the first national park created for its biodiversity, Everglades National Park protects 1.5 million acres of wetland, forest, and marine habitats and the native plants and anima...

27 mi from route ~67 min detour $35 near mile 179
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

288.4 mi in 6h 20m — 58% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: I 75.

58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 106.5 mi on I 75.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.8 miles in near I 75.

Driving Effort 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 288.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 10.8 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 117.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 117.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Cape Coral, FL and Big Coppitt Key, FL, road signs point toward Bay, Florida's Turnpike South: Homestead and Key West.

Bay

117.3 mi in | ~2h 13m

Florida's Turnpike South: Homestead

135.8 mi in | ~2h 37m

Key West

135.8 mi in | ~2h 37m

About the Cities

Starting in Cape Coral, FL

Full guide →

Cape Coral is a city in Southwest Florida. Visitors are drawn by its beaches, nature trails and sea kayaking opportunities on Black Island in Lovers Key State Park.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 20m. Total distance: 288.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 20m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 106.5 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $2.07 in tolls one way, starting with Homestead Extension. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Big Coppitt Key, FL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 10.8 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 117.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 117.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Yes — Biscayne National Park and Everglades National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Big Coppitt Key, FL before the return drive.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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