Trip from Key West, FL to Cape Coral, FL

Drive Time

5h 27m

Distance

302.1 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Long day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Key West, FL to Cape Coral, FL covers 302.1 miles and takes about 5h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Flagler Avenue, South Roosevelt Boulevard, Overseas Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $49.34 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

151 miles from Key West, FL

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 43m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 27m drive with frequent turns across 302.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Flagler Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Flagler Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
South Roosevelt Boulevard	Unavailable	Refreshing
Overseas Highway	Unavailable	Refreshing
New Seven Mile Bridge	Unavailable	Refreshing
Dixie Highway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Miami	Unavailable	Refreshing
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike	Unavailable	Refreshing
US 27	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Flagler Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on George Street

2

At the end of the road, turn left onto Flagler Avenue

3

At the end of the road, turn left onto South Roosevelt Boulevard

4

Turn right onto Overseas Highway

5

Continue on New Seven Mile Bridge

6

Continue on Dixie Highway

7

Take the exit slight right toward Miami, Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North

8

Continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

9

Keep slight right to continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

10

Keep slight left to continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

11

Keep slight right to continue on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

12

Take the exit slight right toward US 27: Okeechobee Road

13

Keep slight right to continue on US 27: Okeechobee Road

14

Merge slight left onto Okeechobee Road

15

Take the exit slight right toward I 75: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Naples

16

Keep slight left to continue on I 75 North: Naples

17

Merge slight left onto Alligator Alley

18

Take the exit slight right toward CR 876: Cape Coral

19

Keep slight left to continue on CR 876 West: Lee County Sports Complex, Florida SouthWestern State College, Cape Coral

20

Turn left onto CR 876 West

21

Turn left onto Daniels Parkway

22

Turn right onto South Cleveland Avenue

23

Turn left onto College Parkway

24

Continue on Cape Coral Bridge Road

25

Continue on Cape Coral Parkway East

26

Turn right

27

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 151 miles from Key West, FL, or about 2h 43m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

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 26m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 151 miles or 2h 43m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cape Coral, FL than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Key West, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Key West, FL

This is one driving day of about 302.1 miles and 5h 27m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Key West, 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.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Doral, FL

151 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Cape Coral, 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 Cape Coral, FL.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 151 mi from Key West, FL

Doral, FL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Doral, FL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 151 miles from Key West, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$4.15	$49.34	$98.67
midgrade	$4.60	$54.66	$109.33
premium	$4.90	$58.23	$116.46
diesel	$4.35	$51.74	$103.48

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 105.7 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Key West, FL to Cape Coral, FL covers 302.1 miles and takes about 5h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Flagler Avenue, South Roosevelt Boulevard, Overseas Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 151 miles from Key West, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $49.34 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

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.