This 182.7-mile drive from Bushnell, FL to Cape Coral, FL will take you approximately 3 hours and 31 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's perfectly suited for a single day. With a projected fuel cost of around $29, it's an economical option for a quick getaway within Florida. The route primarily utilizes I-75 and then transitions to Tamiami Trail and Del Prado Boulevard North as you approach your destination. You'll likely want to plan for just one stop along the way to break up the journey.
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
91.3 miles from Bushnell, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
155.4 mi
2h 46m
Tamiami Trail
10.4 mi
12m
Del Prado Boulevard North
6.5 mi
10m
Del Prado Boulevard South
6.2 mi
12m
West C 48
1.4 mi
2m
Tuckers Grade
0.9 mi
1m
West Belt Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
Cape Coral Parkway East
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 155.4 mi, about 2h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bushnell, FL and Cape Coral, FL.
1
Start on West Noble Avenue
76 ft·9 sec·West Noble Avenue
2
Turn left onto FL 48
0.3 mi·40 sec·North Main Street
3
Turn left onto FL 48
0.5 mi·56 sec·West Belt Avenue
4
Continue on FL 48
1.4 mi·2 min·West C 48
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 75 South: Tampa
6
Merge onto I 75
39 mi·41 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
74 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 75
Toward South I 75: NaplesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
42 mi·45 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 158Toward CR 762: North Fort Myers, Cape Coral
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward CR 762 West, to US 41
11
Turn straight onto CR 762
0.9 mi·1 min·Tuckers Grade
12
Turn left onto US 41
10 mi·12 min·Tamiami Trail
Use the right lane.
13
Turn right onto CR 867A
6.5 mi·10 min·Del Prado Boulevard North
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on CR 867A
6.2 mi·12 min·Del Prado Boulevard South
15
Turn right onto Cape Coral Parkway East
0.3 mi·41 sec·Cape Coral Parkway East
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right
200 ft·14 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour 31-minute duration, departing in the morning from Bushnell is ideal to maximize your time at your destination in Cape Coral. You'll have a long, uninterrupted stretch of 155.4 miles on I-75, so consider planning your single stop for fuel and a quick break around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading onto I-75, as services can be spaced out on longer highway segments. This trip is easily manageable in one day, offering flexibility for when you choose to depart and arrive.
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 91.3 miles from Bushnell, FL, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 155.4 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 40 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.3 miles or 1h 40m 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 42m
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 Bushnell, 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 Bushnell, FL
This is one driving day of about 182.7 miles and 3h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Bushnell, 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 I 75 for about 155.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 41.4 and 169.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
41.4 mi into trip|~46m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward South I 75: Naples
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward South I 75: Naples
6
115.7 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
157.9 mi into trip|~2h 51m 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
158.2 mi into trip|~2h 52m 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
169.6 mi into trip|~3h 7m 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
$29.08 one way
$58.16 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$31.63
$63.27
premium
$4.72
$33.97
$67.94
diesel
$5.61
$40.34
$80.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.8
0
$19.18
$8.77
Efficient EV
45.7
0
$15.99
$7.31
EV Truck/SUV
73.1
0
$25.58
$11.69
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Bushnell, FL
Late night
in Bushnell on Sunday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cape Coral, FL
Late night
in Cape Coral on Sunday
Local time
12:37 AM
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
7 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 31m 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.
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...
9 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 88.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect an 85% highway experience on this route, dominated by a significant 155.4-mile stretch on I-75. This means you'll be covering a lot of ground efficiently on a major interstate. As you near Cape Coral, the drive will transition from the open highway to more urban and suburban roads like Tamiami Trail and Del Prado Boulevard North. While the majority is fast-paced interstate travel, the final segments will require more attention to local traffic and signals.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 155.4 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Tamiami Trail. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 41.4 miles in near I 75.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 182.7 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 41.4 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 115.7 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 157.9 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.
Between Bushnell, FL and Cape Coral, FL, road signs point toward Cr 762: North Fort Myers, Cr 762 West and To Us 41.
Bushnell is in Sumter County on the fringes of North Central Florida. The small settlement has a population of approximately 3,000 as of 2018, and the city dates back to the late 19th century, when a post office was established.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 31m. Total distance: 182.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 155.4 miles on I 75. 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 41.4 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 115.7 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 157.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — De Soto National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Cape Coral, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
