Traveling from Cooper City to Cape Coral covers 132.4 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 35 minutes. This highway-focused trip is straightforward enough to be completed in a single day, making it an efficient choice for those looking to cross the state quickly. You can expect to spend approximately $22 on fuel for the journey. Since the route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, it is a practical option for travelers prioritizing speed over sightseeing. Whether you are heading to the coast for a weekend getaway or a quick business trip, the direct nature of this drive keeps your travel time predictable.
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
66.2 miles from Cooper City, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
112.3 mi
2h
Daniels Parkway
4.8 mi
8m
Port Everglades Expressway
3.3 mi
3m
College Parkway
3.2 mi
5m
Nob Hill Road
1.7 mi
2m
SR 84
1.4 mi
2m
South Nob Hill Road
1.3 mi
2m
Cape Coral Parkway East
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 112.3 mi, about 2h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cooper City, FL and Cape Coral, FL.
1
Start on this road
103 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Southwest 51st Street
474 ft·28 sec·Southwest 51st Street
3
Turn left onto Southwest 90th Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Southwest 90th Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto SR 818
0.6 mi·1 min·Griffin Road
5
Turn right onto Southwest 100th Avenue
210 ft·6 sec·Southwest 100th Avenue
Use the right lane.
6
Continue on Nob Hill Road
1.7 mi·2 min·Nob Hill Road
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on South Nob Hill Road
1.3 mi·2 min·South Nob Hill Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto SR 84
0.7 mi·1 min·SR 84
Use the left lane.
9
Turn slight left onto SR 84
0.8 mi·1 min·SR 84
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 595 WestUse the left lane.
11
Merge onto I 595
3.3 mi·3 min·Port Everglades Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Merge onto I 75
112 mi·2 hr·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 131Toward CR 876: Cape CoralUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork
524 ft·16 sec
Toward CR 876 West: Lee County Sports Complex, Florida SouthWestern State College, Cape CoralUse the left lane.
15
Turn left
116 ft·5 sec
Toward CR 876 West
16
Turn left onto CR 876
4.8 mi·8 min·Daniels Parkway
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto US 41
0.7 mi·1 min·South Cleveland Avenue
18
Turn left onto College Parkway
3.2 mi·5 min·College Parkway
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on Cape Coral Bridge Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Cape Coral Bridge Road
20
Continue on Cape Coral Parkway East
1.0 mi·2 min·Cape Coral Parkway East
21
Turn right
200 ft·14 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short drive of under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Planning for just one stop is usually sufficient to break up the 132.4-mile trip comfortably. Keep in mind that since the vast majority of the route is on I-75, traffic conditions on that specific interstate will be the biggest factor in your total travel time. Try to avoid peak commuting hours if you prefer a smoother, less congested experience on the highway. Filling up your tank before you leave or budgeting for the $22 fuel cost ensures you won't have to worry about stops until you reach your destination.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.2 miles from Cooper City, FL, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112.3 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 29 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.2 miles or 1h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cape Coral, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cooper City, 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 Cooper City, FL
This is one driving day of about 132.4 miles and 2h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Cooper City, 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 112.3 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 121.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.1 mi into trip|~3m in|Southwest 100th Avenue
Turn right onto Southwest 100th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
4.2 mi into trip|~8m in|SR 84
Turn left onto SR 84
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
5.6 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the ramp toward I 595 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 595 West
7
121.5 mi into trip|~2h 15m in
Take the exit toward CR 876: Cape Coral
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 131
Toward CR 876: Cape Coral
8
121.8 mi into trip|~2h 16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CR 876 West: Lee County Sports Complex, Florida SouthWestern State College, Cape Coral
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward CR 876 West: Lee County Sports Complex,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.07 one way
$42.15 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$22.93
$45.85
premium
$4.72
$24.62
$49.24
diesel
$5.61
$29.23
$58.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.7
0
$13.90
$6.36
Efficient EV
33.1
0
$11.58
$5.30
EV Truck/SUV
53
0
$18.54
$8.47
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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 15, 2026
Origin
Cooper City, FL
Afternoon
in Cooper City on Sunday
Local time
4:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cape Coral, FL
Afternoon
in Cape Coral on Sunday
Local time
4:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Golden Gate, FL
66 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
3 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
2h 35m 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 consistent interstate experience, as 95% of this journey is spent on high-speed highways. Your route primarily utilizes I-75, the Port Everglades Expressway, and Daniels Parkway to navigate toward the Gulf Coast. You will spend the bulk of your time on a single 112.3-mile stretch along I-75, which defines the character of this drive as a steady, highway-heavy cruise. The road transitions from the dense infrastructure near Cooper City to the more open stretches leading into the Cape Coral area. It is a functional, efficient drive that requires focused highway driving rather than navigating winding local backroads.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 112.3 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Daniels Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near Southwest 100th Avenue.
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 14 significant decision points across 132.4 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: at 1.1 miles (Southwest 100th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles (SR 84): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
36 ft5 ft
Total Climb
56 ft
Total Descent
56 ft
Highest Point
36 ft
~9.5 mi in
Elevation Range
32 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cooper City, FL and Cape Coral, FL, road signs point toward Cr 876: Cape Coral, Cr 876 West: Lee County Sports Complex, Florida Southwestern State College and Cr 876 West.
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 2h 35m. Total distance: 132.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 112.3 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Cape Coral, 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: at 1.1 miles (Southwest 100th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.2 miles (SR 84): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cape Coral, FL before heading back.
