Origin
Cape Coral, FL
Afternoon in Cape Coral on Saturday
Local time
4:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 55m
Distance
162.1 mi
261 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cape Coral, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Montverde, FL
DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ
Cape Coral to Montverde is 162.1 miles and takes about 3 hours 55 minutes via US 17 and US 27, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Florida, taking you from the southwestern part of the state up towards the center. It's primarily a highway-focused journey, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads. Given the relatively short duration and manageable distance, this trip is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
81.1 miles from Cape Coral, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 55m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 17 | 87.7 mi | 2h 4m |
| US 27 | 21 mi | 29m |
| North Tamiami Trail | 10.4 mi | 12m |
| Del Prado Boulevard North | 6.5 mi | 10m |
| I 4 | 6.2 mi | 6m |
| North Buena Vista Drive | 6.1 mi | 9m |
| I 75 | 5.8 mi | 6m |
| Del Prado Boulevard South | 5.2 mi | 10m |
Step-by-step road directions between Cape Coral, FL and Montverde, FL.
Start on this road
Turn right onto Cape Coral Parkway East
Turn right onto Vincennes Boulevard
Enter roundabout onto Vincennes Boulevard
Continue on Vincennes Boulevard
Turn right onto Coronado Parkway
Turn left onto CR 867A
Continue on CR 867A
Turn left onto US 41
Turn right onto CR 762
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 75
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 17
Continue on US 17
Continue on US 17
Continue on US 17
Turn left onto CR 557
Continue on CR 557
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 4
Take the exit
Turn right onto US 27
Continue on US 27
Turn right onto Citrus Tower Road
Continue on Citrus Tower Boulevard
Turn right onto FL 50
Continue on FL 50
Turn left onto CR 455
Enter roundabout onto CR 455; CR Old 50
Continue on CR 455; CR Old 50
Enter roundabout onto CR 455
Continue on CR 455
Enter roundabout
Continue
Turn straight onto CR 455
Turn right onto Franklin Avenue
Arrive at destination
For this 162.1-mile drive, departing in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight and ensure you have ample time to reach Montverde comfortably. With a drive time of under 4 hours, you likely won't need extensive stops, but consider a brief break around the midway point or after completing the longest stretch on US 17. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $26, and plan your refueling accordingly, especially before embarking on the 87.7-mile section on US 17. This is a manageable one-day trip, so you have flexibility in your departure time.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 36 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.1 miles or 1h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Montverde, FL than in the middle of the route.
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 162.1 miles and 3h 55m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
81 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.
A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 81.1 miles from Cape Coral, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 17 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 87.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 155.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Vincennes Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Enter roundabout onto Vincennes Boulevard
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Take the exit toward US 17: Punta Gorda, Arcadia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 27: Haines City, Clermont
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto FL 50
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$25.80 one way
$51.60 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $28.07 | $56.14 |
| premium | $4.72 | $30.14 | $60.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.79 | $71.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.6 | 0 | $17.02 | $7.78 |
| Efficient EV | 40.5 | 0 | $14.18 | $6.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64.8 | 0 | $22.69 | $10.37 |
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Cape Coral on Saturday
Local time
4:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Montverde on Saturday
Local time
4:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a highway-focused drive on this route, with 79% of the journey on higher-speed roads. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 87.7 miles on US 17, which will likely feel like the main artery of your trip. While primarily a highway experience, the route incorporates sections of US 27 and North Tamiami Trail, suggesting a mix that transitions between faster travel and potentially more local road conditions as you approach your destination. The drive is designed for efficient travel rather than leisurely sightseeing.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 17 and US 27. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Vincennes Boulevard.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 162.1 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: near the start (Vincennes Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (Vincennes Boulevard): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 30.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cape Coral, FL and Montverde, FL, road signs point toward Arcadia and Clermont.
Arcadia
Clermont
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 55m. Total distance: 162.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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