Cape Coral to Gonzalez is 593.8 miles and takes about 10 hours 56 minutes via I-75 and I-10, with a fuel budget near $93 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This long-haul drive stays within Florida, connecting the southwest coast to the Florida Panhandle. With nearly all of your travel on major highways, it’s a straightforward, albeit lengthy, trip. Consider this route if you prefer getting to your destination efficiently, especially if you're looking to cover significant ground in a single day or split it over two. It’s a functional route for reaching the Panhandle from South Florida.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
296.9 miles from Cape Coral, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
285.8 mi
5h 6m
I 75
276.8 mi
4h 57m
North Tamiami Trail
10.4 mi
12m
Del Prado Boulevard North
6.5 mi
10m
Del Prado Boulevard South
5.2 mi
10m
Pensacola Boulevard
3.9 mi
6m
Tuckers Grade
1.1 mi
2m
South Highway 29
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 285.8 mi, about 5h 6m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 61 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,428 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,247
Quietest
2 AM
~367 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cape Coral, FL and Gonzalez, 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
277 mi·4 hr 57 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Exit 435Toward I 10: Jacksonville, TallahasseeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·30 sec
Toward I 10 West: TallahasseeUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 10
286 mi·5 hr 6 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Exit 10Toward US 29: Pensacola, Cantonment, Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward US 29 North: Cantonment, Pensacola Boulevard
18
Turn straight onto US 29
3.9 mi·6 min·Pensacola Boulevard
19
Continue on US 29
1.0 mi·1 min·South Highway 29
20
Turn sharp right onto Tate School Road
124 ft·9 sec·Tate School Road
21
Turn left onto CR 95A
0.3 mi·27 sec·North Palafox Road
22
Turn right onto CR 749
0.2 mi·30 sec·Old Chemstrand Road
23
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue
82 ft·3 sec·3rd Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
3rd Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the nearly 11-hour duration, splitting this drive over two days is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. Aim to depart early in the morning if you plan to drive it in one go, or break it up around the halfway point if you opt for two days. With 3 planned stops, ensure they are strategically placed for fuel and rest, especially since you'll be on I-10 for a significant portion. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, particularly during the longest stretch on I-10, as services can be more spread out in some sections.
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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 296.9 miles from Cape Coral, FL, or about 5h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 285.8 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 131 miles or 2h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 296.9 miles or 5h 32m 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 296.9 miles or 5h 32m
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 9h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gonzalez, 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 297 miles and 5.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Gonzalez, FL
Aim for roughly 297 miles and 5.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 131 miles from Cape Coral, FL.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 285.8 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 588 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Vincennes Boulevard
Turn right onto Vincennes Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
301.7 mi into trip|~5h 38m in
Take the exit toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
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 435
Toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
8
301.8 mi into trip|~5h 38m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 West: Tallahassee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 West: Tallahassee
8
587.9 mi into trip|~10h 45m in
Take the exit toward US 29: Pensacola, Cantonment,
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 10
Toward US 29: Pensacola, Cantonment,
6
588 mi into trip|~10h 45m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 29 North: Cantonment, Pensacola Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 29 North: Cantonment, Pensacola Boule...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$89.89 one way
$179.78 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg208 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$98.63
$197.26
premium
$4.55
$106.37
$212.74
diesel
$4.80
$112.12
$224.24
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$90
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$220–$330
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 207.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $62 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
178.1
2
$62.35
$28.50
Efficient EV
148.5
1
$51.96
$23.75
EV Truck/SUV
237.5
2
$83.13
$38.00
Gas CO2
208 kg
EV CO2
69 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 16, 2026
Origin
Cape Coral, FL
Morning
in Cape Coral on Sunday
Local time
11:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
95°F
Mostly Sunny
WNW 12 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 16 at 11:29AM EDT until July 17 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 6:52AM EDT until July 16 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Destination
Gonzalez, FL
Morning
in Gonzalez on Sunday
Local time
10:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
NW 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 16 at 11:29AM EDT until July 17 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 6:52AM EDT until July 16 at 7:00PM EDT by NWS Miami 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.
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
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
1 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
10h 56m 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.
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...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
near mile 81.9
Millions of visitors are drawn to the Gulf of America for Gulf Islands National Seashore's emerald coast waters, magnificent white beaches, fertile marshes and historical landscapes. Come explore with...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
$25
near mile 593.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly highway driving, with 95% of the 593.8 miles on major interstates. You'll experience a longest stretch of 285.8 miles on I-10, meaning long periods of consistent speed. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur late in the drive as you approach Gonzalez. Expect a steady cruising experience for the vast majority of this route, with minimal time spent on local roads.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 285.8 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and I 75. 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 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 16 significant decision points across 593.8 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 301.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 301.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
260 ft5 ft
Total Climb
406 ft
Total Descent
257 ft
Highest Point
260 ft
~424.2 mi in
Elevation Range
255 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Cape Coral, FL to Gonzalez, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Tallahassee along the way.
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.
The longest stretch is about 285.8 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 297 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
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 Gonzalez, 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 3 meaningful breaks. There are 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Vincennes Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 301.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 301.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — De Soto National Memorial and Gulf Islands National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 10.9 hours each way, a round trip means 21.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Gonzalez, FL before the return drive.
