Origin
Cape Coral, FL
Afternoon in Cape Coral on Monday
Local time
3:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cape Coral, FL to Key West, FL
Drive Time
6h 36m
Distance
297.2 mi
478 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 24m
★
6 AM
6h 37m
8 AM
7h 1m
10 AM
6h 45m
12 PM
6h 43m
3 PM
6h 46m
5 PM
7h 0m
8 PM
6h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cape Coral, FL
DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ
Key West, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Cape Coral, FL to Key West, FL covers 297.2 miles and takes about 6h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Cape Coral Parkway East, Cape Coral Bridge Road, College Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $49.65 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
148.6 miles from Cape Coral, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 36m drive with frequent turns across 297.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Cape Coral Parkway East is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 36m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cape Coral, FL to Key West, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral Parkway East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Cape Coral Bridge Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| College Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Cleveland Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Daniels Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 75 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 27 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 27 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Cape Coral Parkway East
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cape Coral, FL and Key West, FL.
1
Start on the route
95 ft
·
7 sec
·
the route
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
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
6
Turn right onto South Cleveland Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Cleveland Avenue
7
Turn left onto Daniels Parkway
4.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Daniels Parkway
8
Take the ramp slight right toward I 75 South: Naples
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 75 South: Naples
9
Merge slight left
107 mi
·
1 hr 54 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 27: Miami, South Bay
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
US 27: Miami, South Bay
11
Keep slight right to continue on US 27 South: Miami
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
US 27 South: Miami
12
Merge slight left
9.2 mi
·
11 min
13
Keep slight right
8.6 mi
·
11 min
14
Take the exit right toward Florida's Turnpike South: Homestead, Key West
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Florida's Turnpike South: Homestead, Key West
15
Merge slight left onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
35 mi
·
40 min
·
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
16
Keep slight left
0.6 mi
·
1 min
17
Merge slight left onto Dixie Highway
19 mi
·
26 min
·
Dixie Highway
18
Continue on Overseas Highway
104 mi
·
2 hr 42 min
·
Overseas Highway
19
Turn right onto North Roosevelt Boulevard
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
North Roosevelt Boulevard
20
Turn left onto George Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
George Street
21
Arrive at your destination
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 148.6 miles from Cape Coral, FL, or about 3h 18m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.6 miles or 3h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Key West, 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 297.2 miles and 6h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 148.6 mi from Cape Coral, FL · 3h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
149 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 148.6 miles from Cape Coral, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Key West, FL
The final approach into Key West, FL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Key West, FL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.65 one way
$99.29 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
104 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $53.78 | $107.55 |
| premium | $4.90 | $57.29 | $114.57 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $66.03 | $132.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 89.2 | 1 | $31.21 | $14.27 |
| Efficient EV | 74.3 | 0 | $26.01 | $11.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 118.9 | 1 | $41.61 | $19.02 |
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 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.
Destination
Key West, FL
Afternoon in Key West on Monday
Local time
3:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°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
8 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 36m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cape Coral, FL to Key West, FL covers 297.2 miles and takes about 6h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Cape Coral Parkway East, Cape Coral Bridge Road, College Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 148.6 miles from Cape Coral, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $49.65 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 36m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cape Coral, FL to Key West, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cape Coral, FL to Key West, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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