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Trip from Cape Coral, FL to DeFuniak Springs, FL

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

Drive Time

9h 29m

Distance

516.1 mi

831 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$82

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
9h 21m ★
6 AM
9h 30m
8 AM
9h 47m
10 AM
9h 36m
12 PM
9h 34m
3 PM
9h 37m
5 PM
9h 46m
8 PM
9h 25m

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

city in Lee County, Florida, United States

Cape Coral, FL

Wikimedia Commons

city in Walton County, Florida, United States

DeFuniak Springs, FL

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Cape Coral, FL to DeFuniak Springs, FL covers 516.1 miles and takes about 9h 29m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on I 75, I 10, North Tamiami Trail for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-haul drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 276.8 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $82.15 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

258 miles from Cape Coral, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 51m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 276.8 mi 4h 57m
I 10 211.3 mi 3h 46m
North Tamiami Trail 10.4 mi 12m
Del Prado Boulevard North 6.5 mi 10m
Del Prado Boulevard South 5.2 mi 10m
US Highway 331 South 2 mi 3m
Tuckers Grade 1.1 mi 2m
Coronado Parkway 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 276.8 mi, about 4h 57m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cape Coral, FL and DeFuniak Springs, FL.

1

Start on this road

95 ft · 7 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto Cape Coral Parkway East

125 ft · 7 sec · Cape Coral Parkway East
3

Turn right onto Vincennes Boulevard

357 ft · 13 sec · Vincennes Boulevard
Use the right lane.
4

Enter roundabout onto Vincennes Boulevard

61 ft · 2 sec · Vincennes Boulevard
5

Continue on Vincennes Boulevard

0.5 mi · 1 min · Vincennes Boulevard
6

Turn right onto Coronado Parkway

0.6 mi · 1 min · Coronado Parkway
7

Turn left onto CR 867A

5.2 mi · 10 min · Del Prado Boulevard South
8

Continue on CR 867A

6.5 mi · 10 min · Del Prado Boulevard North
Use the left lane.
9

Turn left onto US 41

10 mi · 12 min · North Tamiami Trail
Use the right lane.
10

Turn right onto CR 762

1.1 mi · 2 min · Tuckers Grade
11

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 56 sec
Toward I 75 North: Tampa
12

Merge onto I 75

277 mi · 4 hr 57 min · I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 15 sec
Exit 435 Toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 10 West: Tallahassee Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15

Merge onto I 10

211 mi · 3 hr 46 min · I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Toward US 331: DeFuniak Springs, Freeport
17

Turn right onto US 331

2.0 mi · 3 min · US Highway 331 South
18

At end of road, turn right onto US 90

0.3 mi · 43 sec · US Highway 90 East
19

Turn right onto South 9th Street

124 ft · 5 sec · South 9th Street
20

Arrive at destination

South 9th Street

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.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 258 miles from Cape Coral, FL, or about 4h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 276.8 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

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

First stop

Around 114 miles or 2h 16m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 258 miles or 4h 51m in

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

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 258 miles or 4h 51m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 8h 23m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near DeFuniak Springs, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

+

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Cape Coral, FL

Aim for roughly 258 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into DeFuniak Springs, FL

Aim for roughly 258 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 114 miles from Cape Coral, FL.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 276.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

St. Petersburg, FL

170 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Popular next leg

St. Petersburg, FL to Gainesville, FL

151.7 mi · 2h 56m

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Gainesville, FL

341 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Gainesville, FL

Popular next leg

Gainesville, FL to DeFuniak Springs, FL

267.1 mi · 4h 56m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Mango, FL

258 mi · about 4.7h in

A practical overnight split lands near Mango, FL after about 258 miles or 4.7 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

St. Petersburg, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 114 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Gainesville, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 258 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 276.8 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 258 miles or 4.7 hours on the road.

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.

Top Restaurant

Ellianos Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lake City, Florida

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 294.9

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+13867520202

Visit website

Two Cuban Guy's Home of Garcia's Place

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lake City, Florida

0.8 mi

Ellianos Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lake City, Florida

1.3 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Macondo Coffee Roasters - Wesley Chapel

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Wesley Chapel, Florida

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 147.4

Hours: 8 am–6 pm

+13524245621

Visit website

Canal Coffee Company

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lake City, Florida

1.4 mi

Opus Coffee - UF Health Springhill

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Gainesville, Florida

1 mi

Ellianos Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 294.9

Lake City, Florida

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+13867520202

Visit website

Two Cuban Guy's Home of Garcia's Place

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 294.9

Lake City, Florida

Hours: 11 am–6 pm

+13057755055

Ellianos Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 294.9

Lake City, Florida

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+13864388064

Visit website

🏆 The Gathering Cafe Downtown Ocala

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 221.2

Ocala, Florida

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+13524219810

Visit website

Starbucks

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour $1 to $10 mile 405.5

Tallahassee, Florida

Hours: 5 am–8 pm

+18505621373

Visit website

Raining Berries - Lutz / Wesley Chapel

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20 mile 147.4

Lutz, Florida

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+18139498299

Visit website

Macondo Coffee Roasters - Wesley Chapel

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 147.4

Wesley Chapel, Florida

Hours: 8 am–6 pm

+13524245621

Visit website

Canal Coffee Company

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 294.9

Lake City, Florida

Hours: 5 am–1 pm

+13864388426

Visit website

Opus Coffee - UF Health Springhill

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 258

Gainesville, Florida

Hours: 7:30 am–4 pm

+13522268512

Visit website

BW Blacksmith Coffee | Hwy 90

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 294.9

Lake City, Florida

Hours: 6:30 am–6 pm

+13864388553

Visit website

Box Car Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 479.2

Chipley, Florida

Hours: 7 am–6:30 pm

+18506764119

Visit website

SAGE Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 294.9

Lake City, Florida

Hours: 6 am–7 pm

+13867529875

Visit website

The Mission Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 258

Gainesville, Florida

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

+13523318554

Visit website

The Juniper General Store

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 221.2

Ocala, Florida

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+13525094006

Tesla Supercharger

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 516.1

Defuniak Springs, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 258

Gainesville, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 294.9

Lake City, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 479.2

Chipley, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 294.9

Lake City, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

Electrify America Charging Station

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 36.9

Punta Gorda, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Ionna Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 147.4

Wesley Chapel, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18334662474

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 479.2

Chipley, Florida

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 258

Gainesville, Florida

Hours: 9 am–3 pm

+13523955633

Visit website

Kika Silva Pla Planetarium at Santa Fe College

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 258

Gainesville, Florida

Hours: Closed

+13523955381

Visit website

Big Cat Habitat

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 73.7

Sarasota, Florida

Hours: 12–4 pm

+19413716377

Visit website

Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 258

Gainesville, Florida

+13529552008

Visit website

Tuscawilla Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 221.2

Ocala, Florida

+13523685517

Visit website

Tuscawilla Art Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 221.2

Ocala, Florida

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+13526298447

Visit website

Possum Creek Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 258

Gainesville, Florida

+13523345067

Visit website

Ocala Downtown Square

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 221.2

Ocala, Florida

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 301.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Vincennes Boulevard

Turn right onto Vincennes Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Vincennes Boulevard

Enter roundabout onto Vincennes Boulevard

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
24.9 mi into trip | ~40m in | I 75

Merge onto I 75

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
301.7 mi into trip | ~5h 38m in

Take the exit toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 435 Toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
8
301.8 mi into trip | ~5h 38m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 West: Tallahassee

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 10 West: Tallahassee

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$82.15 one way

$164.30 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 181 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $89.36 $178.73
premium $4.72 $95.97 $191.93
diesel $5.61 $113.95 $227.90

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$82

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$212–$322

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 180.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $54 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 154.8 1 $54.19 $24.77
Efficient EV 129 1 $45.16 $20.64
EV Truck/SUV 206.4 2 $72.25 $33.03

Gas CO2

181 kg

EV CO2

60 kg (67% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Cape Coral, FL

Afternoon in Cape Coral on Saturday

Local time

3:16 PM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

DeFuniak Springs, FL

Afternoon in DeFuniak Springs on Saturday

Local time

2:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

81°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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

Time zone

1 hour earlier

The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.

Temperature spread

15 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

9h 29m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

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.

De Soto National Memorial

De Soto National Memorial

National Memorial

In May 1539, Conquistador Hernando de Soto’s army of soldiers, hired mercenaries, craftsmen, and clergy made landfall in Tampa Bay. They were met with fierce resistance of indigenous people protecting...

10 mi from route ~25 min detour Free near mile 89
View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

516.1 mi / 9h 29m — a long-haul route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. Biggest road: I 75.

95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 276.8 mi on I 75.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 10. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Vincennes Boulevard.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 516.1 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Vincennes Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (Vincennes Boulevard): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 24.9 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

On the drive from Cape Coral, FL to DeFuniak Springs, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Tallahassee along the way.

Tallahassee

301.7 mi in | ~5h 38m

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?

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

9h 29m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 276.8 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 258 miles on day one.

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 DeFuniak Springs, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Vincennes Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (Vincennes Boulevard): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 24.9 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — De Soto National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 9.5 hours each way, a round trip means 19.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at DeFuniak Springs, 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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