Cape Coral to Saint Augustine is 263.3 miles and takes about 5h 46m via US 17 and I-4, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive will take you across Florida, moving from the southwest region to the northeast. With an 87% highway share, expect a fairly direct journey, making it a solid choice for a single-day trip. The route is straightforward, primarily utilizing major roadways to connect these two points within the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
131.7 miles from Cape Coral, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 17
87.7 mi
2h 4m
I 4
82.9 mi
1h 35m
I 95
35.3 mi
38m
US 1
16.3 mi
23m
North Tamiami Trail
10.4 mi
12m
Del Prado Boulevard North
6.5 mi
10m
North Buena Vista Drive
6.1 mi
9m
I 75
5.8 mi
6m
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 Saint Augustine, 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
13 mi·14 min·I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 4
13 mi·16 min·I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 4
57 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward I 95: Miami, Jacksonville
26
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 95 North, US 92 North: Jacksonville
27
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 North: JacksonvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Merge onto I 95
35 mi·38 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 298Toward US 1: Saint AugustineUse the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight right at fork
206 ft·4 sec
Toward US 1 North: St. Augustine, Faver Dykes , Fort MatanzasUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
31
Turn straight onto US 1
12 mi·15 min·US 1
32
Continue on US 1
4.2 mi·7 min·US 1
33
Turn right onto Carrera Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Carrera Street
34
At end of road, turn right onto Cordova Street
84 ft·3 sec·Cordova Street
35
Arrive at destination
Cordova Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 46m estimated drive time, departing from Cape Coral in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Saint Augustine with ample daylight. The 263.3-mile distance is manageable for a single day, so you won't need to plan for an overnight stop. You'll be covering 87.7 miles on US 17 at one point, so keep an eye on your fuel levels as you transition onto this longer highway segment. Budgeting around $42 for fuel should cover this trip within Florida.
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 131.7 miles from Cape Coral, FL, or about 3h 9m 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 58 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.7 miles or 3h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Augustine, 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 263.3 miles and 5h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 246.6 — 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.
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
7
210 mi into trip|~4h 40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: Jacksonville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: Jacksonville
7
246.3 mi into trip|~5h 20m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Saint Augustine
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 298
Toward US 1: Saint Augustine
9
246.6 mi into trip|~5h 20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 1 North: St. Augustine, Faver Dykes , Fort Matanzas
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 1 North: St. Augustine, Faver Dykes ,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.91 one way
$83.82 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$45.59
$91.18
premium
$4.72
$48.96
$97.92
diesel
$5.61
$58.13
$116.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79
0
$27.65
$12.64
Efficient EV
65.8
0
$23.04
$10.53
EV Truck/SUV
105.3
1
$36.86
$16.85
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Cape Coral, FL
Morning
in Cape Coral on Tuesday
Local time
7:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Saint Augustine, FL
Morning
in Saint Augustine on Tuesday
Local time
7:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
66°F
Eagle Lake, FL
132 mi in
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
1 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
5h 46m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
National Monument
Built by the Spanish in St. Augustine to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument preserves the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United Stat...
Fort Matanzas National Monument preserves the fortified coquina watchtower, completed in 1742, which defended the southern approach to the Spanish military settlement of St. Augustine. It also protect...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 245.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 87% of the journey on interstates and major highways. You'll encounter a lengthy stretch of US 17, extending for 87.7 miles, which will offer a different pace before merging onto the faster interstates. Expect the character of the drive to shift from more rural highway travel to interstate cruising as you progress. The profile suggests a consistent, efficient journey rather than a winding or particularly scenic one.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 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?
9/10
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 early in the drive near Vincennes Boulevard.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 263.3 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 30.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 210 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Saint Augustine, FL, road signs point toward Arcadia, Jacksonville, Faver Dykes and Fort Matanzas.
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.
St. Augustine lays claim to being the oldest city in the United States. It is 30 minutes south of Jacksonville in the First Coast, and is full of romantic ambiance and old world charm. It is best known for its remarkable historic streets and attractions, Spanish-style architecture, and panoramic bayfront views.
The walkable downtown is made up of narrow colonial streets lined with interesting locally-owned shops and outstanding restaurants. A trio of grand hotel buildings built in the late 19th century by railroad magnate Henry Flagler tower over the smaller, reconstructed historic houses, but the tallest building in town is just seven stories. One of Flagler's former hotels is now home to a small, private liberal arts college whose students add a sense of pulsating life to the centuries-old town.
In St.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 46m. Total distance: 263.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). 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.
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 Saint Augustine, 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: near the start (Vincennes Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 210 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Castillo de San Marcos National Monument and Fort Matanzas National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Saint Augustine, FL before the return drive.
