Miami to Cape Coral road trip: Distance, drive time & best stops
The best road trip stops on the Miami to Cape Coral drive are Fort Lauderdale, Naples and Fort Myers. The distance from Miami to Cape Coral is 159 miles, with a 2h30m driving time.
Planning a Miami to Cape Coral road trip itinerary
The Miami to Cape Coral drive connects two of the most appealing destinations in southern Florida.
Miami is a city with several sides to it. The art deco and showiness of South Beach contrasts heavily with the landscaped garden grandeur of Coral Gables, for example.
Top Miami experiences include food tours of Little Havana, sightseeing by speedboat and South Beach cruises that take in the homes of millionaires. Alternatively, try a sunset cocktail cruise, a half day Everglades tour or a scenic helicopter flight.
Attractions worth getting advance tickets for include the Frost Science Museum, the Museum of Graffiti and the Paradox Museum.
The most memorable Miami accommodation is in one of South Beach’s art deco hotels. The Essex House Hotel is an architectural classic. The National has an amazing pool.
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.
Excellent hotels in Cape Coral include the waterfront Westin Cape Coral Resort and the Hampton Inn and Suites.
Miami to Cape Coral distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Miami to Cape Coral is 159 miles. That makes for a driving time of around two hours and 30 minutes. Most of the drive is along the I-75.
The best stops to add to a Miami to Cape Coral road trip itinerary are Fort Lauderdale, Naples and Fort Myers.
For more suggestions, read the guides to the Miami to Naples drive and Naples to Cape Coral drive.
Miami to Cape Coral drive: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is 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.
Best stops between Miami and Cape Coral: Naples, Florida
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.
Miami to Cape Coral road trip attractions: Fort Myers
There’s a massive collection of Fort Myers experiences to choose from. Top picks include paddleboarding with dolphins and manatees, sunset sailing cruises and haunted history walks.
For a night out the buzzy bars and restaurants of the River District are full of energy, while the Georgian Revival-style Burroughs Home and Gardens does the grand mansion thing.
The cultural highlights, however, are the Winter Estates of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Along with lavish gardens, these mansions are full of stories about legendary inventors going on wild adventures.
Great Fort Myers hotel options include the brilliantly-located Luminary Hotel and Margaritaville Beach Resort.
More Miami road trips
Miami to Boca Raton | Miami to Boynton Beach | Miami to Cocoa Beach | Miami to Daytona Beach | Miami to Deerfield Beach | Miami to Delray Beach | Destin to Miami | Miami to Disney World | Miami to Fort Lauderdale | Miami to Fort Myers | Miami to Fort Pierce FL | Miami to Hollywood FL | Jacksonville to Miami | Miami to Jupiter FL | Miami to Kissimmee | Miami to Lake Worth Beach | Miami to Melbourne FL | Memphis to Miami | Miami to Naples | Orlando to Miami | Panama City to Miami | Pensacola to Miami | Miami to Pompano Beach | Miami to Port Canaveral | Miami to Port St Lucie | Miami to Punta Gorda | Sarasota to Miami | Miami to St Augustine | Miami to Stuart FL | Tallashassee to Miami | Miami to Vero Beach | Miami to West Palm Beach.
More Cape Coral road trips
Fort Lauderdale to Cape Coral | Naples FL to Cape Coral | Cape Coral to Punta Gorda.