This 147.9-mile drive from Sunny Isles Beach to Cape Coral is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 53 minutes. The majority of your journey, 96% of it, will be on highways, primarily utilizing I-95 and I-75. You can expect a fuel cost of around $24 for this route. Given its relatively short duration and highway focus, this trip is perfect for a straightforward day excursion, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. It's a practical Florida-to-Florida route that gets you where you need to go efficiently.
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
74 miles from Sunny Isles Beach, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
112.3 mi
2h
Port Everglades Expressway
11.8 mi
13m
I 95
7.3 mi
8m
Daniels Parkway
4.8 mi
8m
College Parkway
3.2 mi
5m
SR 856
1.9 mi
3m
Ives Dairy 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 Sunny Isles Beach, FL and Cape Coral, FL.
1
Start on 189th Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·189th Street
2
Turn right onto SR A1A
368 ft·14 sec·Collins Avenue
3
Continue on SR A1A
158 ft·9 sec·Collins Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp onto SR 856
1.9 mi·3 min·SR 856
Toward SR 856 West: William Lehman CausewayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Turn right onto US 1
0.4 mi·48 sec·Biscayne Boulevard
Use the right lane.
6
Turn slight right
420 ft·15 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·33 sec·this road
8
Continue on Ives Dairy Road
1.3 mi·2 min·Ives Dairy Road
9
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 North: West Palm BeachUse the straight / right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 95
7.3 mi·8 min·I 95
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 24Toward I 595: Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 595 WestUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 595
1.7 mi·2 min·Port Everglades Expressway
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 595
10 mi·11 min·Port Everglades Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 75
112 mi·2 hr·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 131Toward CR 876: Cape CoralUse the slight right lane.
17
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.
18
Turn left
116 ft·5 sec
Toward CR 876 West
19
Turn left onto CR 876
4.8 mi·8 min·Daniels Parkway
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto US 41
0.7 mi·1 min·South Cleveland Avenue
21
Turn left onto College Parkway
3.2 mi·5 min·College Parkway
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on Cape Coral Bridge Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Cape Coral Bridge Road
23
Continue on Cape Coral Parkway East
1.0 mi·2 min·Cape Coral Parkway East
24
Turn right
200 ft·14 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this drive is under 3 hours and primarily highway, it's best tackled in one go. Aim to leave Sunny Isles Beach in the morning to take advantage of lighter traffic and arrive in Cape Coral with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in timing your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the longest stretch on I-75 is over 100 miles, and plan your refueling accordingly. The $24 fuel estimate is a good starting point for budgeting this efficient Florida journey.
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 74 miles from Sunny Isles Beach, FL, or about 1h 26m 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 33 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74 miles or 1h 26m 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 17m
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 Sunny Isles Beach, 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 Sunny Isles Beach, FL
This is one driving day of about 147.9 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Sunny Isles Beach, 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.8 and 137.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
11.8 mi into trip|~17m in
Take the exit toward I 595: Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
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 24
Toward I 595: Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale-...
7
12 mi into trip|~18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 595 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 595 West
6
14.6 mi into trip|~22m in|I 595 / Port Everglades Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 595 / Port Everglades Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
137 mi into trip|~2h 34m 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
137.3 mi into trip|~2h 34m 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
$23.54 one way
$47.08 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$25.61
$51.22
premium
$4.72
$27.50
$55.00
diesel
$5.61
$32.65
$65.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.4
0
$15.53
$7.10
Efficient EV
37
0
$12.94
$5.92
EV Truck/SUV
59.2
0
$20.71
$9.47
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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 18, 2026
Origin
Sunny Isles Beach, FL
Late night
in Sunny Isles Beach on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cape Coral, FL
Late night
in Cape Coral on Sunday
Local time
3:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Partly Cloudy
ENE 3 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued April 17 at 2:19PM EDT until April 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch issued April 17 at 2:19PM EDT until April 20 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
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
2h 53m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 largely highway-focused experience on this 147.9-mile route. With a 96% highway share, much of your time will be spent on major interstates like I-75 and I-95, transitioning via the Port Everglades Expressway. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 112.3 miles on I-75, so settle in for some consistent driving. This profile suggests a route designed for efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways, making it ideal for covering distance quickly.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 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?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Port Everglades Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.8 miles in.
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 18 significant decision points across 147.9 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 11.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles (I 595 / Port Everglades Expressway): 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 Sunny Isles Beach, FL and Cape Coral, FL, road signs point toward Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, 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 53m. Total distance: 147.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). 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 11.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles (I 595 / Port Everglades Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
