Mims, FL to Cape Coral, FL is 204.9 miles and takes about 4h 35m via US 17 and Beachline Expressway, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, connecting two points in the central and southwest parts of the state. It's a straightforward, mostly highway drive that most people can complete in a single day. You'll encounter a mix of expressway cruising and surface road driving as you make your way across 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
102.5 miles from Mims, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 17
84.7 mi
1h 59m
Beachline Expressway
20.7 mi
22m
Central Florida GreeneWay
18.3 mi
20m
I 4
12.5 mi
13m
I 95
10.9 mi
11m
Tamiami Trail
10.4 mi
12m
Southern Connector Extension
8.2 mi
9m
Del Prado Boulevard North
6.5 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
US 17
— 84.7 mi, about 1h 59m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,723 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,322
Quietest
1 AM
~217 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 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 Mims, FL and Cape Coral, FL.
1
Start on US 1
132 ft·10 sec·US 1
2
Turn left onto FL 46
1.6 mi·2 min·West Main Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward I 95 South: Miami
4
Merge onto I 95
11 mi·11 min·I 95
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 212Toward FL 407: Kennedy Space Center, OrlandoUse the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward FL 407 South: OrlandoUse the slight right lane.
7
Turn straight onto FL 407
3.0 mi·3 min·Challenger Memorial Parkway
8
Take the ramp onto FL 407
0.9 mi·1 min·Challenger Memorial Parkway
Toward FL 528 Toll West
9
Merge onto FL 528 Toll
21 mi·22 min·Beachline Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 16Toward FL 417: Orlando, Tampa, Disney World, SanfordUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.3 mi·2 min
Toward FL 417 Toll South: Tampa, Disney WorldUse the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto FL 417 Toll
18 mi·20 min·Central Florida GreeneWay
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto FL 417 Toll
8.2 mi·9 min·Southern Connector Extension
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 4
12 mi·13 min·I 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 48Toward CR 557: Lake Alfred, Winter HavenUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn slight left onto CR 557
6.4 mi·9 min·CR 557
17
Turn right onto US 17; US 92
0.6 mi·1 min·Shinn Boulevard
18
Continue on US 17; US 92
0.6 mi·1 min·Lake Shore Way
19
Turn straight onto US 17
3.7 mi·6 min·US 17
Use the left / straight lanes.
20
Continue on US 17
2.2 mi·4 min·6th Street Southwest
21
Continue on US 17
39 mi·55 min·US 17
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on US 17
1.1 mi·1 min·US 17
23
Continue on US 17
2.5 mi·2 min·US 17
24
Continue on US 17
39 mi·52 min·US 17
Use the right lane.
25
Turn left
0.4 mi·58 sec
Toward I 75 South: Naples
26
Merge onto I 75
5.8 mi·6 min·I 75
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 158Toward CR 762: North Fort Myers, Cape Coral
28
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward CR 762 West, to US 41
29
Turn straight onto CR 762
0.9 mi·1 min·Tuckers Grade
30
Turn left onto US 41
10 mi·12 min·Tamiami Trail
Use the right lane.
31
Turn right onto CR 867A
6.5 mi·10 min·Del Prado Boulevard North
Use the left lane.
32
Continue on CR 867A
6.2 mi·12 min·Del Prado Boulevard South
33
Turn right onto Cape Coral Parkway East
0.3 mi·41 sec·Cape Coral Parkway East
Use the right lane.
34
Turn right
200 ft·14 sec
35
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Leaving Mims in the morning, around 9 AM, should give you ample daylight to reach Cape Coral. With a total drive time under five hours, this trip is easily done in one day, allowing for flexibility with stops. Plan for one stop to break up the drive, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without services is over 80 miles on US 17, so ensure you're topped off before that segment.
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 102.5 miles from Mims, FL, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.7 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 45 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.5 miles or 2h 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 3h 40m
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 Mims, 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 Mims, FL
This is one driving day of about 204.9 miles and 4h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Mims, 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 84.7 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.9 and 78.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
12.9 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward FL 407: Kennedy Space Center, Orlando
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 212
Toward FL 407: Kennedy Space Center, Orlando
7
13.4 mi into trip|~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward FL 407 South: Orlando
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward FL 407 South: Orlando
8
38.3 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the exit toward FL 417: Orlando, Tampa, Disney World, Sanford
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 16
Toward FL 417: Orlando, Tampa, Disney World, Sa...
8
38.6 mi into trip|~45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward FL 417 Toll South: Tampa, Disney World
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward FL 417 Toll South: Tampa, Disney World
8
78.8 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward CR 557: Lake Alfred, Winter Haven
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 48
Toward CR 557: Lake Alfred, Winter Haven
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.02 one way
$62.03 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$34.03
$68.07
premium
$4.55
$36.70
$73.41
diesel
$4.80
$38.69
$77.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.5
0
$21.51
$9.84
Efficient EV
51.2
0
$17.93
$8.20
EV Truck/SUV
82
1
$28.69
$13.11
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Mims, FL
Late night
in Mims on Monday
Local time
4:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Cape Coral, FL
Late night
in Cape Coral on Monday
Local time
4:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
ESE 5 mph18% chanceLive forecast
96°F
Eagle Lake, FL
102 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 35m 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.
Canaveral National Seashore
National Seashore
Discover a dynamic barrier island shaped by dunes, coastal hammocks, and Mosquito Lagoon. Walk among ancient Timucua shell mounds and connect with thousands of years of human history. Immerse yourself...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
$25
Caution: Pavement Project- Playalinda District
Park Closure: Limited Access to Apollo District Parking Lots 2 and 3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 71% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads. The longest continuous stretch without a significant break is 84.7 miles on US 17. Expect a shift from expressway driving to surface roads as you approach your destination. You'll notice frequent exits and interchanges on the highway sections, requiring attention to navigation.
71% 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: 84.7 mi on US 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 17 and Beachline Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.9 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 23 significant decision points across 204.9 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 12.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
136 ft5 ft
Total Climb
134 ft
Total Descent
161 ft
Highest Point
136 ft
~87.8 mi in
Elevation Range
131 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Mims, FL and Cape Coral, FL, road signs point toward Orlando, Tampa, Disney World, Sanford, Cr 557: Lake Alfred and Winter Haven - among others.
Mims is a city in Brevard County between Oak Hill to the northeast and Titusville to the south. Mims' northern suburb, Scottsmoor, is also covered in this article.
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 35m. Total distance: 204.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 84.7 miles on US 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 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 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. There are 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Canaveral National Seashore. 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 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Cape Coral, FL, but most travelers stay overnight.
