The drive from Cape Coral, FL to Apalachicola, FL covers 425.6 miles and takes about 8h 57m behind the wheel.
It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 75, Young Boulevard, Hampton Springs Avenue for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 115.6 miles on I 75.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $67.74 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
212.8 miles from Cape Coral, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 13m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
8h 57m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Cape Coral, FL to Apalachicola, FL covers 425.6 miles and takes about 8h 57m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 75 is the longest continuous segment at about 115.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 early in the drive near Vincennes Boulevard.
Driving Effort8/10
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 425.6 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 24.9 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
140.4 mi into trip|~2h 45m in
Take the exit toward FL 56: Land O Lakes, Tarpon Springs
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 275
Toward FL 56: Land O Lakes, Tarpon Springs
7
142.6 mi into trip|~2h 48m in
Keep slight left at fork toward FL 56 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward FL 56 West
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 Apalachicola, FL, road signs point toward Tarpon Springs and Brooksville.
Tarpon Springs
140.4 mi in|~2h 45m
Brooksville
153 mi in|~3h 3m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
115.6 mi
2h 4m
Young Boulevard
66.5 mi
1h 25m
Hampton Springs Avenue
54.4 mi
1h 11m
Suncoast Parkway
48.5 mi
52m
Suncoast Boulevard
47 mi
59m
US 319
32.5 mi
49m
Sopchoppy Highway
17 mi
24m
North Tamiami Trail
10.4 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 115.6 mi, about 2h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cape Coral, FL and Apalachicola, 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
116 mi·2 hr 4 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
2.2 mi·3 min
Exit 275Toward FL 56: Land O Lakes, Tarpon SpringsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward FL 56 WestUse the slight left lane.
15
Turn left onto FL 56
1.0 mi·1 min·State Road 56
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on FL 54
9.4 mi·13 min·State Road 54
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward North FL 589 Toll: Suncoast Parkway, Brooksville
18
Merge onto FL 589 Toll
49 mi·52 min·Suncoast Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward FL 44: Gulf to Lake Highway
20
Turn left onto FL 44
4.8 mi·7 min·Gulf to Lake Highway
21
Continue on FL 44
0.9 mi·1 min·Northeast 5th Street
22
Turn right onto US 19; US 98
47 mi·59 min·Suncoast Boulevard
Use the right lane.
23
Continue on US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate
67 mi·1 hr 25 min·Young Boulevard
24
Turn left onto US 98
54 mi·1 hr 11 min·Hampton Springs Avenue
25
Turn slight right onto US 319
6.5 mi·9 min·Sopchoppy Highway
26
Keep slight left at fork onto US 319
11 mi·14 min·Sopchoppy Highway
27
Keep slight right at fork onto US 319
32 mi·49 min·US 319
28
Turn left onto Avenue C
456 ft·22 sec·Avenue C
29
Turn right onto 5th Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·5th Street
30
Arrive at destination
5th 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 212.8 miles from Cape Coral, FL, or about 4h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.6 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 94 miles or 1h 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 212.8 miles or 4h 13m 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 212.8 miles or 4h 13m
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 7h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Apalachicola, 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 213 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Apalachicola, FL
Aim for roughly 213 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 94 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 115.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 212.8 mi from Cape Coral, FL
· 4h 13m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 88.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$67.74 one way
$135.49 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg149 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$73.69
$147.38
premium
$4.72
$79.14
$158.28
diesel
$5.61
$93.97
$187.93
Estimated Tolls: $2.91
Suncoast Parkway
(48.5 mi)$2.91
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
$68
Tolls
$3
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$201–$311
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 148.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
127.7
1
$44.69
$20.43
Efficient EV
106.4
1
$37.24
$17.02
EV Truck/SUV
170.2
2
$59.58
$27.24
Gas CO2
149 kg
EV CO2
50 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 15, 2026
Origin
Cape Coral, FL
Afternoon
in Cape Coral on Friday
Local time
4:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Apalachicola, FL
Afternoon
in Apalachicola on Friday
Local time
4:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
8h 57m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cape Coral, FL to Apalachicola, FL covers 425.6 miles and takes about 8h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, Young Boulevard, Hampton Springs Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 213 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 212.8 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 $67.74 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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 425.6 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.
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.
Between Cape Coral, FL and Apalachicola, FL, road signs point toward Tarpon Springs and Brooksville.
Yes. Nearby national parks include De Soto National Memorial.
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.
