This 94.7-mile drive from Cape Coral, FL to Bradenton, FL is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 1 minute to complete. The route primarily utilizes major roads like I-75 and North Tamiami Trail, making it a straightforward journey. With a projected fuel cost of around $15, this highway-focused drive offers an efficient way to travel between these two Florida locations. It's a practical option if you're looking for a direct and uncomplicated travel experience within the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.3 miles from Cape Coral, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
62.6 mi
1h 7m
North Tamiami Trail
10.4 mi
12m
Del Prado Boulevard North
6.5 mi
10m
Del Prado Boulevard South
5.2 mi
10m
State Road 64 East
3.4 mi
5m
Manatee Avenue East
2.3 mi
4m
Tuckers Grade
1.1 mi
2m
Manatee Avenue West
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 62.6 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cape Coral, FL and Bradenton, 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
63 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 220Toward FL 64: Bradenton, Wauchula, Zolfo SpringsUse the left lane.
14
Turn left onto FL 64
3.4 mi·5 min·State Road 64 East
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on FL 64
2.3 mi·4 min·Manatee Avenue East
16
Continue on FL 64
0.8 mi·1 min·Manatee Avenue West
17
Turn right onto 14th Street West
0.2 mi·57 sec·14th Street West
18
Turn right
105 ft·7 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour duration, this trip is best suited for a single day. Consider leaving in the morning to enjoy the full day at your destination in Bradenton, or depart mid-morning to avoid peak traffic. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, budgeting is simple. The longest stretch on I-75 means you can cover a good distance without frequent stops, but be mindful of planning your fuel and rest breaks accordingly. A specific tip for this route: pay attention to the transition points between I-75 and the local roads like North Tamiami Trail, as these can sometimes involve unexpected traffic patterns.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 47.3 miles from Cape Coral, FL, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.6 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 21 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.3 miles or 1h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bradenton, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cape Coral, FL
This is one driving day of about 94.7 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Cape Coral, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 62.6 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 87.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Cape Coral Parkway East
Turn right onto Cape Coral Parkway East
Navigation decision point
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
87.5 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Take the exit toward FL 64: Bradenton, Wauchula, Zolfo Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Exit 220
Toward FL 64: Bradenton, Wauchula, Zolfo Spring...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.07 one way
$30.15 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$16.40
$32.79
premium
$4.72
$17.61
$35.22
diesel
$5.61
$20.91
$41.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.4
0
$9.94
$4.55
Efficient EV
23.7
0
$8.29
$3.79
EV Truck/SUV
37.9
0
$13.26
$6.06
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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 20, 2026
Origin
Cape Coral, FL
Late night
in Cape Coral on Tuesday
Local time
4:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 12 to 16 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued April 20 at 3:53PM EDT until April 22 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued April 20 at 3:53PM EDT until April 22 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Destination
Bradenton, FL
Late night
in Bradenton on Tuesday
Local time
4:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°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
19 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
2h 1m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
5 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 94.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-centric experience on this route, with 67% of your travel occurring on major interstates and highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 62.6 miles on I-75, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the journey. You'll also navigate parts of North Tamiami Trail and Del Prado Boulevard North, which will introduce some local road driving before you merge back onto faster routes. This mix means you'll experience both the efficiency of highway travel and moments of more localized navigation.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62.6 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and North Tamiami Trail. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Cape Coral Parkway East.
Driving Effort5/10
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 94.7 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (Cape Coral Parkway East): Navigation decision point; near the start (Vincennes Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (Vincennes Boulevard): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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 Bradenton, FL, road signs point toward Wauchula and Zolfo Springs.
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.
Bradenton is a city on the Florida West Coast. Its economy is based on tourism and agricultural products. Tropicana, the orange juice company, and Bealls are headquartered here.
Top landmarks
•De Soto National Memorial — National Memorial of the United States in Bradenton, United States of America
•Manatee County Courthouse — county courthouse in Bradenton, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 1m. Total distance: 94.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 62.6 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Cape Coral Parkway East): Navigation decision point; near the start (Vincennes Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (Vincennes Boulevard): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes — De Soto National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bradenton, FL before heading back.
