Cape Coral to Montverde is 162.1 miles and takes about 3 hours 55 minutes via US 17 and US 27, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Florida, taking you from the southwestern part of the state up towards the center. It's primarily a highway-focused journey, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads. Given the relatively short duration and manageable distance, this trip is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
81.1 miles from Cape Coral, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 17
87.7 mi
2h 4m
US 27
21 mi
29m
North Tamiami Trail
10.4 mi
12m
Del Prado Boulevard North
6.5 mi
10m
I 4
6.2 mi
6m
North Buena Vista Drive
6.1 mi
9m
I 75
5.8 mi
6m
Del Prado Boulevard South
5.2 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
US 17
— 87.7 mi, about 2h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cape Coral, FL and Montverde, 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
5.8 mi·6 min·I 75
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 164Toward US 17: Punta Gorda, Arcadia
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward US 17 North
15
Merge onto US 17
38 mi·51 min·US 17
16
Continue on US 17
2.5 mi·2 min·US 17
17
Continue on US 17
1.1 mi·1 min·US 17
18
Continue on US 17
46 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 17
Use the left lane.
19
Turn left onto CR 557
0.1 mi·13 sec·Pomelo Street
20
Continue on CR 557
6.1 mi·9 min·North Buena Vista Drive
21
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
22
Merge onto I 4
6.2 mi·6 min·I 4
23
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 55Toward US 27: Haines City, ClermontUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Turn right onto US 27
8.6 mi·12 min·US 27
25
Continue on US 27
12 mi·17 min·US 27
Use the left lane.
26
Turn right onto Citrus Tower Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Citrus Tower Road
27
Continue on Citrus Tower Boulevard
1.4 mi·2 min·Citrus Tower Boulevard
28
Turn right onto FL 50
1.4 mi·1 min·FL 50
Use the left lane.
29
Continue on FL 50
1.1 mi·1 min·FL 50
30
Turn left onto CR 455
0.9 mi·1 min·CR 455
31
Enter roundabout onto CR 455; CR Old 50
101 ft·2 sec·CR 455; CR Old 50
32
Continue on CR 455; CR Old 50
482 ft·10 sec·CR 455; CR Old 50
33
Enter roundabout onto CR 455
162 ft·3 sec·CR 455
34
Continue on CR 455
2.5 mi·4 min·CR 455
35
Enter roundabout
93 ft·1 sec
36
Continue
146 ft·3 sec
37
Turn straight onto CR 455
0.7 mi·1 min·7th Street
38
Turn right onto Franklin Avenue
228 ft·9 sec·Franklin Avenue
39
Arrive at destination
Franklin Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 162.1-mile drive, departing in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight and ensure you have ample time to reach Montverde comfortably. With a drive time of under 4 hours, you likely won't need extensive stops, but consider a brief break around the midway point or after completing the longest stretch on US 17. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $26, and plan your refueling accordingly, especially before embarking on the 87.7-mile section on US 17. This is a manageable one-day trip, so you have flexibility in your departure time.
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 81.1 miles from Cape Coral, FL, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.7 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 36 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.1 miles or 1h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Montverde, 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 162.1 miles and 3h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Cape Coral, 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 87.7 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 155.3 — 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.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Vincennes Boulevard
Enter roundabout onto Vincennes Boulevard
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
30.7 mi into trip|~46m in
Take the exit toward US 17: Punta Gorda, Arcadia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 164
Toward US 17: Punta Gorda, Arcadia
8
131.8 mi into trip|~3h 9m in
Take the exit toward US 27: Haines City, Clermont
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 55
Toward US 27: Haines City, Clermont
6
155.3 mi into trip|~3h 43m in|FL 50
Turn right onto FL 50
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.80 one way
$51.60 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$28.07
$56.14
premium
$4.72
$30.14
$60.28
diesel
$5.61
$35.79
$71.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.6
0
$17.02
$7.78
Efficient EV
40.5
0
$14.18
$6.48
EV Truck/SUV
64.8
0
$22.69
$10.37
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Morning
in Cape Coral on Tuesday
Local time
6:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Montverde, FL
Morning
in Montverde on Tuesday
Local time
6:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
91°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
6 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 55m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive on this route, with 79% of the journey on higher-speed roads. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 87.7 miles on US 17, which will likely feel like the main artery of your trip. While primarily a highway experience, the route incorporates sections of US 27 and North Tamiami Trail, suggesting a mix that transitions between faster travel and potentially more local road conditions as you approach your destination. The drive is designed for efficient travel rather than leisurely sightseeing.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.7 mi on US 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 17 and US 27. 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 20 significant decision points across 162.1 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 0.1 miles (Vincennes Boulevard): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 30.7 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 Cape Coral, FL and Montverde, FL, road signs point toward Arcadia and Clermont.
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 55m. Total distance: 162.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 87.7 miles on US 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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.
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 Montverde, 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. There are 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Vincennes Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (Vincennes Boulevard): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 30.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Montverde, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
