This 580.3-mile journey from Pace, Florida, to Cape Coral, Florida, is a substantial undertaking, estimated to take around 10 hours and 45 minutes of driving time. Given its length and duration, this is best split over two days, allowing for a more relaxed pace and sufficient rest. The drive primarily utilizes major interstates, with I-75 and I-10 forming the backbone of the route. You'll be looking at an estimated fuel cost of $92 for the entire trip. This route is a long-distance drive within the state of Florida, connecting two distinct regions of the Sunshine State.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
290.2 miles from Pace, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
277 mi
4h 56m
I 10
264.2 mi
4h 43m
Caroline Street
12.1 mi
21m
Tamiami Trail
10.4 mi
12m
Del Prado Boulevard North
6.5 mi
10m
Del Prado Boulevard South
6.2 mi
12m
FL 87
1.3 mi
2m
Tuckers Grade
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 277 mi, about 4h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pace, FL and Cape Coral, FL.
1
Start on US 90
12 mi·21 min·Caroline Street
Use the left lane.
2
Turn right onto FL 87
1.3 mi·2 min·FL 87
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 East: Tallahassee
4
Merge onto I 10
264 mi·4 hr 43 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·37 sec
Exit 296AToward I-75 South: Tampa
6
Merge onto I 75
161 mi·2 hr 52 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
74 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 75
Toward South I 75: NaplesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
42 mi·45 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 158Toward CR 762: North Fort Myers, Cape Coral
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward CR 762 West, to US 41
11
Turn straight onto CR 762
0.9 mi·1 min·Tuckers Grade
12
Turn left onto US 41
10 mi·12 min·Tamiami Trail
Use the right lane.
13
Turn right onto CR 867A
6.5 mi·10 min·Del Prado Boulevard North
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on CR 867A
6.2 mi·12 min·Del Prado Boulevard South
15
Turn right onto Cape Coral Parkway East
0.3 mi·41 sec·Cape Coral Parkway East
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right
200 ft·14 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 10-hour, 45-minute drive, planning for an overnight stop is highly recommended. Aim to depart early in the morning on your first day to maximize daylight driving and reach your chosen stopping point comfortably. With three planned stops, you can break up the 580.3 miles effectively, perhaps after covering the longest stretch on I-75. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer highway segments, and consider breaking up the drive around the midway point to avoid fatigue on the 277-mile stretch of I-75.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 290.2 miles from Pace, FL, or about 5h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 277 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 128 miles or 2h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 290.2 miles or 5h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 290.2 miles or 5h 20m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 9h 27m
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 Pace, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Pace, FL
Aim for roughly 290 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Cape Coral, FL
Aim for roughly 290 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 128 miles from Pace, FL.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 277 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 439.1 and 567.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
439.1 mi into trip|~8h in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward South I 75: Naples
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward South I 75: Naples
6
513.4 mi into trip|~9h 19m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
555.6 mi into trip|~10h 5m in
Take the exit toward CR 762: North Fort Myers, Cape Coral
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 158
Toward CR 762: North Fort Myers, Cape Coral
7
555.9 mi into trip|~10h 5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CR 762 West, to US 41
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CR 762 West, to US 41
6
567.3 mi into trip|~10h 20m in|CR 867A / Del Prado Boulevard North
Turn right onto CR 867A / Del Prado Boulevard North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$92.37 one way
$184.74 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg203 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$100.48
$200.96
premium
$4.72
$107.90
$215.81
diesel
$5.61
$128.12
$256.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$92
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$222–$332
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 203 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $61 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
174.1
2
$60.93
$27.85
Efficient EV
145.1
1
$50.78
$23.21
EV Truck/SUV
232.1
2
$81.24
$37.14
Gas CO2
203 kg
EV CO2
68 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 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 16, 2026
Origin
Pace, FL
Late night
in Pace on Sunday
Local time
2:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cape Coral, FL
Late night
in Cape Coral on Sunday
Local time
3:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
13 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
10h 45m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 480.3
Millions of visitors are drawn to the Gulf of America for Gulf Islands National Seashore's emerald coast waters, magnificent white beaches, fertile marshes and historical landscapes. Come explore with...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly interstate experience on this route, with 94% of the drive on highways. The majority of your time will be spent on I-75, which features a significant uninterrupted stretch of 277 miles. This suggests long periods of consistent highway driving. While the route is efficient for covering distance, the character is largely that of a functional, long-distance interstate cruise, designed for getting you from point A to point B rather than for leisurely sightseeing along the way.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 277 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and I 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 439.1 miles in near I 75.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 580.3 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: at 439.1 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 513.4 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 555.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
The longest stretch is about 277 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 290 miles on day one.
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 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 3 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 439.1 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 513.4 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 555.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — De Soto National Memorial and Gulf Islands National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 10.8 hours each way, a round trip means 21.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Cape Coral, FL before the return drive.
