Origin
Buenaventura Lakes, FL
Afternoon in Buenaventura Lakes on Sunday
Local time
12:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buenaventura Lakes, FL to Cape Coral, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 41m
Distance
156.7 mi
252 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 29m
★
6 AM
3h 41m
8 AM
4h 6m
10 AM
3h 50m
12 PM
3h 47m
3 PM
3h 51m
5 PM
4h 5m
8 PM
3h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buenaventura Lakes, FL
Matt Fitz Gibaud
Cape Coral, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Buenaventura Lakes to Cape Coral is 156.7 miles and takes about 3h 41m via US 17 and I 4, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily takes you across Florida, moving from one urbanizing area to another. Expect a straightforward drive with a significant portion on highways. Given the relatively short duration and distance, this route is best suited for a single-day journey, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. You'll spend most of your time on major roads, making it a functional transit rather than a leisurely scenic tour.
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
78.3 miles from Buenaventura Lakes, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 49m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 17 | 84.7 mi | 1h 59m |
| I 4 | 12.5 mi | 13m |
| Tamiami Trail | 10.4 mi | 12m |
| Southern Connector Extension | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| Central Florida GreeneWay | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| Del Prado Boulevard North | 6.5 mi | 10m |
| CR 557 | 6.4 mi | 9m |
| Del Prado Boulevard South | 6.2 mi | 12m |
Longest stretch:
US 17
— 84.7 mi, about 1h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buenaventura Lakes, FL and Cape Coral, FL.
1
Start on Gardenia Road
466 ft
·
22 sec
·
Gardenia Road
2
Turn right onto Kumquat Lane
260 ft
·
16 sec
·
Kumquat Lane
3
Turn left onto Florida Parkway
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Florida Parkway
4
Turn right onto Buenaventura Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Buenaventura Boulevard
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on Landstar Boulevard
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Landstar Boulevard
Use the left lane.
6
Turn left onto 417 Toll
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
·
417 Toll
Toward FL 417 Toll South: Tampa
7
Merge onto FL 417 Toll
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Central Florida GreeneWay
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 417 Toll
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Southern Connector Extension
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 4
12 mi
·
13 min
·
I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 48
Toward CR 557: Lake Alfred, Winter Haven
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn slight left onto CR 557
6.4 mi
·
9 min
·
CR 557
12
Turn right onto US 17; US 92
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Shinn Boulevard
13
Continue on US 17; US 92
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Shore Way
14
Turn straight onto US 17
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
US 17
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Continue on US 17
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
6th Street Southwest
16
Continue on US 17
39 mi
·
55 min
·
US 17
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on US 17
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 17
18
Continue on US 17
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
US 17
19
Continue on US 17
39 mi
·
52 min
·
US 17
Use the right lane.
20
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 75 South: Naples
21
Merge onto I 75
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
I 75
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 158
Toward CR 762: North Fort Myers, Cape Coral
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward CR 762 West, to US 41
24
Turn straight onto CR 762
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Tuckers Grade
25
Turn left onto US 41
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Tamiami Trail
Use the right lane.
26
Turn right onto CR 867A
6.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Del Prado Boulevard North
Use the left lane.
27
Continue on CR 867A
6.2 mi
·
12 min
·
Del Prado Boulevard South
28
Turn right onto Cape Coral Parkway East
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Cape Coral Parkway East
Use the right lane.
29
Turn right
200 ft
·
14 sec
30
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 156.7-mile drive, consider an early morning departure to avoid any potential midday traffic, especially on I 4. With a total duration of just under 4 hours, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. You'll encounter one major road, US 17, for a substantial 84.7-mile segment; keep an eye on your fuel levels as you traverse this longer stretch. While there's no need to split this into an overnight, plan for one brief stop to stretch your legs and stay refreshed. Budgeting around $25 for fuel should cover your needs for this journey.
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 78.3 miles from Buenaventura Lakes, FL, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.7 miles.
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 34 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.3 miles or 1h 49m 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 57m
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 Buenaventura Lakes, 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 Buenaventura Lakes, FL
This is one driving day of about 156.7 miles and 3h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Buenaventura Lakes, 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.
The longest stretch is on US 17 for about 84.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
78 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 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 78.3 miles from Buenaventura Lakes, 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 84.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 10 and 143.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
10 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
FL 417 Toll / Southern Connector Extension
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 417 Toll / Southern Connector Extension
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
30.6 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward CR 557: Lake Alfred, Winter Haven
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 48
Toward CR 557: Lake Alfred, Winter Haven
6
131.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 1m in
Take the exit toward CR 762: North Fort Myers, Cape Coral
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 158
Toward CR 762: North Fort Myers, Cape Coral
7
132.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CR 762 West, to US 41
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CR 762 West, to US 41
6
143.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 16m in
|
CR 867A / Del Prado Boulevard North
Turn right onto CR 867A / Del Prado Boulevard North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.94 one way
$49.88 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
55 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $27.13 | $54.27 |
| premium | $4.72 | $29.14 | $58.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $34.60 | $69.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47 | 0 | $16.45 | $7.52 |
| Efficient EV | 39.2 | 0 | $13.71 | $6.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 62.7 | 0 | $21.94 | $10.03 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Cape Coral, FL
Afternoon in Cape Coral on Sunday
Local time
12:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°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
4 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
3h 41m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with approximately 70% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 84.7 miles on US 17, which offers a different pace than the interstate. The transition from US 17 to I 4 will likely feel like a shift to faster speeds and more direct travel. While the majority of the drive is on these main arteries, the overall character is one of efficient transit between points, rather than winding backroads or particularly varied scenery. The route is designed for getting you there.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84.7 mi on US 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 17 and I 4. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10 miles in near FL 417 Toll / Southern Connector Extension.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 156.7 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: at 10 miles (FL 417 Toll / Southern Connector Extension): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 131.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Buenaventura Lakes, FL and Cape Coral, FL, road signs point toward Cr 557: Lake Alfred, Winter Haven, Cr 762: North Fort Myers, Cr 762 West and To Us 41.
Cr 557: Lake Alfred
30.6 mi in
|
~37m
Winter Haven
30.6 mi in
|
~37m
Cr 762: North Fort Myers
131.9 mi in
|
~3h 1m
Cr 762 West
132.2 mi in
|
~3h 1m
To Us 41
132.2 mi in
|
~3h 1m
About the Cities
Arriving in Cape Coral, FL
Full guide →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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 41m. Total distance: 156.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 84.7 miles on US 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Cape Coral, FL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 10 miles (FL 417 Toll / Southern Connector Extension): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 131.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Cape Coral, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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