Cape Coral to Williston is 241 miles and takes about 4h 37m via I 75 and US 27, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, transitioning from the southwestern part of the state up towards the central region. With 90% of the route on highways, expect a fairly direct and efficient drive. It's a straightforward trip, suitable for a single day of travel if you're looking for a quick way to cover the distance.
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
120.5 miles from Cape Coral, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
194.5 mi
3h 29m
US 27
21.3 mi
27m
North Tamiami Trail
10.4 mi
12m
Del Prado Boulevard North
6.5 mi
10m
Del Prado Boulevard South
5.2 mi
10m
Tuckers Grade
1.1 mi
2m
Coronado Parkway
0.6 mi
1m
Vincennes Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 194.5 mi, about 3h 29m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 98 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,930 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,636
Quietest
2 AM
~364 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Williston, 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
194 mi·3 hr 29 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward US 27: Ocala, Williston
14
Keep slight left at fork
295 ft·9 sec
Toward US 27 North: WillistonUse the left lane.
15
Merge onto US 27
21 mi·27 min·US 27
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
US 27
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4.5-hour drive, consider leaving Cape Coral early in the morning to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. The 194.5-mile stretch on I 75 means you can cover a significant portion of the distance without needing a stop, but plan for at least one break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $37 budget is an estimate, and stations can be more spread out on certain highway sections. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility; however, a mid-drive stop around the halfway point can help break up the time spent behind the wheel.
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 120.5 miles from Cape Coral, FL, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 194.5 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 53 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.5 miles or 2h 23m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Williston, 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 241 miles and 4h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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 I 75 for about 194.5 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 219.6 — 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.
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.
5
219.4 mi into trip|~4h 9m in
Take the exit toward US 27: Ocala, Williston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 27: Ocala, Williston
8
219.6 mi into trip|~4h 10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 27 North: Williston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 27 North: Williston
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.10 one way
$80.19 round trip
$4.23/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.69
$44.48
$88.96
premium
$5.02
$47.64
$95.28
diesel
$6.12
$58.03
$116.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.3
0
$25.31
$11.57
Efficient EV
60.3
0
$21.09
$9.64
EV Truck/SUV
96.4
1
$33.74
$15.42
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% 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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Cape Coral, FL
Morning
in Cape Coral on Saturday
Local time
8:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Mostly Sunny then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
SSE 6 mph38% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Williston, FL
Morning
in Williston on Saturday
Local time
8:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
34 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
4h 37m 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.
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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 91.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 90% of your time on highways, with the longest continuous stretch on I 75 covering 194.5 miles. This means you'll experience mostly high-speed cruising for the majority of the drive. The transition to surface roads, like US 27, will happen later in the trip, offering a change of pace with more frequent exits and potentially more local traffic as you approach your destination. Expect a rapid pace for most of the 241 miles.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 194.5 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and US 27. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Vincennes Boulevard.
Driving Effort6/10
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 241 miles you will encounter 10 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 (Vincennes Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (Vincennes Boulevard): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 24.9 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 4h 37m. Total distance: 241 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 194.5 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Williston, 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 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 0.1 miles (Vincennes Boulevard): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 24.9 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — De Soto National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Williston, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
