Fort Lauderdale to Cape Coral: Distance, drive time & best stops
The best stops on a Fort Lauderdale to Cape Coral road trip are Sawgrass Recreation Park, Naples and Koreshan State Park. By car, the distance from Fort Lauderdale to Cape Coral is 140 miles, with a driving time of 2h19m.
Planning a Fort Lauderdale to Cape Coral road trip itinerary
The drive from Fort Lauderdale to Cape Coral takes you from the east coast of Florida to the west coast – and connects two holiday cities with a very different feel.
Fort Lauderdale is a sleek coastal city of beaches and canals. For Fort Lauderdale experiences, try narrated 90 minute cruises on the Jungle Queen, Everglades airboat adventures and snorkelling tours on the Fort Lauderdale reefs.
Alternatively, try an evening boat cruise, renting a powerboat or parasailing.
Great beachfront Fort Lauderdale accommodation options include the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and the Hotel Maren.
Cape Coral is all about the water. There are so many canals that holiday rentals often come with a boat.
For nature lovers, try the kayak trail or mangrove boardwalks at the Four Mile Cove Ecological Reserve. This wetland sanctuary is home to burrowing owls, raccoons and other wildlife. How to explore it.
Other Cape Coral experiences include bike rentals, half day fishing trips and jetski adventures.
Fort Lauderdale to Cape Coral distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Fort Lauderdale to Cape Coral is 140 miles. That makes for a driving time of around two hours and 19 minutes.
The Fort Lauderdale to Cape Coral drive is almost entirely along the I-75. Much of the journey is through the Everglades.
The best stops between Fort Lauderdale and Cape Coral are Sawgrass Recreation Park, Naples and Koreshan State Park.
Fort Lauderdale to Cape Coral road trip attractions: Sawgrass Recreation Park
On the outskirts of Fort Lauderdale, the Sawgrass Recreation Park is a prime spot to take an airboat ride on the Everglades. The rides are partly about thrills – the airboats can travel at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour.
Mainly, though, these Sawgrass Recreation Park airboat trips are about nature. Keep an eye out for turtles, wading birds and, of course, alligators.
Fort Lauderdale to Cape Coral drive: Naples
The southernmost city on Florida’s west coast has plenty going for it. You can get some beach time in at Lowdermilk Park, stroll through the Naples Botanical Garden and learn about the heritage of South West Florida inside the Collier Museum at Government Center.
Other Naples experiences include boat tours, sunset cruises, Segway tours and electric trike tours.
Top Naples hotels with consistently excellent reviews include the Escalante and the Bellasera Resort.
Best stops between Fort Lauderdale and Cape Coral: Koreshan State Park
Many of the usual state park staples are available at Koreshan State Park. You can go hiking, kayaking, camping and wildlife viewing.
The unusual twist is that this site on the Estero River was once home to a strange religious sect. The Koreshans set up a celibate, communal living experiment under the oak trees back in 1893. They managed to get a farm and botanical gardens running, and eleven of the original buildings are still intact. The buildings are open to visitors.
More Fort Lauderdale road trips
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