Origin
Cape Coral, FL
Evening in Cape Coral on Friday
Local time
7:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 15m
Distance
134.8 mi
217 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
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
Palm City, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Cape Coral to Palm City is 134.8 miles and takes about 3h 15m via Industrial Drive/Southwest Martin Highway/Palm Beach Boulevard, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, moving from the Southwest to the Southeast region. Expect a route with frequent turns, so it's best suited for drivers who prefer navigating local roads over long stretches of highway. With a recommended one-day drive, you'll have plenty of time to reach your destination without needing to book an overnight stay.
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
67.4 miles from Cape Coral, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 36m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 15m. Total distance: 134.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
This drive has a turn-heavy local feel, with only 26% of the route on highways. You'll experience a mix of city streets and county roads, so be prepared for a dynamic driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 34.4 miles on Industrial Drive, offering a brief period of consistent travel before more turns commence. The road profile suggests frequent adjustments in direction, making it less of a straight shot and more of an exploratory journey through local Florida terrain.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 11.4 miles in.
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 134.8 miles you will encounter 17 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: at 11.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.8 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward I 75 North: Tampa, I-75 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward FL 80: Fort Myers, La Belle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto FL 29 / North Bridge Street
Lane positioning matters here
Enter roundabout onto US 98; US 441
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Cape Coral, FL to Palm City, FL, road signs begin pointing toward La Belle along the way.
La Belle
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Drive | 34.4 mi | 46m |
| Southwest Martin Highway | 25.3 mi | 39m |
| Palm Beach Boulevard | 24.2 mi | 34m |
| FL 78 | 14.8 mi | 18m |
| US 98 | 6.4 mi | 10m |
| Colonial Boulevard | 5.8 mi | 9m |
| I 75 | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| FL 710 | 4 mi | 5m |
Step-by-step road directions between Cape Coral, FL and Palm City, FL.
Start on this road
Turn right onto Cape Coral Parkway East
Continue on Cape Coral Parkway East
Continue on Cape Coral Bridge Road
Turn slight right onto College Parkway
Continue on Cape Coral Bridge Road
Turn slight left
Turn slight left onto FL 867
Turn right
Continue on Colonial Boulevard
Take the exit
Merge onto I 75
Take the exit
Turn right onto FL 80
Turn left onto FL 29
Turn right onto FL 78
Continue on US 27; FL 78
Take the exit
Turn left onto FL 78 Detour
Continue on US 98; US 441
Continue on US 98; US 441
Enter roundabout onto US 98; US 441
Continue on US 98; US 441
Turn left onto CR 15A
At end of road, turn right onto FL 710
Turn left onto CR 714
Turn left onto Southwest Mapp Road
Turn right onto Southwest 30th Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 3h 15m estimated duration, starting your drive from Cape Coral in the morning will allow ample time to reach Palm City well before sunset. The $21 fuel cost is manageable, but it's wise to fill up before departing Cape Coral, as the frequent turns might mean less immediate access to large gas stations along the way. Plan for your single stop to be a brief refuel or quick break, as the route is designed for a single-day transit. Keep an eye on your GPS, especially during the segments on Industrial Drive and Southwest Martin Highway, as these are the areas where you'll encounter the most turns.
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 30 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.4 miles or 1h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Palm City, 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 134.8 miles and 3h 15m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 67.4 mi from Cape Coral, FL · 1h 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
67 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 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 67.4 miles from Cape Coral, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Palm City, 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 Palm City, FL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$21.46 one way
$42.91 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $23.34 | $46.68 |
| premium | $4.72 | $25.07 | $50.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.76 | $59.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.4 | 0 | $14.15 | $6.47 |
| Efficient EV | 33.7 | 0 | $11.80 | $5.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53.9 | 0 | $18.87 | $8.63 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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
Evening in Cape Coral on Friday
Local time
7:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Palm City on Friday
Local time
7:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°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.
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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