How far is Cape Coral, FL from Panama City, FL?

The driving distance from Cape Coral, FL to Panama City, FL is about 499 miles (803 km), with a travel time of about 09h 34m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 335.5 miles (540 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 19h 08m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
498.95 mi
09h 34m
Flight
335.57 mi
540.05 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cape Coral.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
335.57 mi
Kilometers
540.05 km
Flight Time
00h 40m

Driving Distance

Road route
498.95 mi
Kilometers
802.99 km
Drive Time
09h 34m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 09h 34m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Panama City
Fri, Apr 17, 6:35 PM CDT
Return by in Cape Coral
Sat, Apr 18, 5:10 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cape Coral
2026-04-17T10:01
Arrive Panama City
Fri, Apr 17, 7:35 PM EDT
Route Timing
09h 34m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
2:34 PM to 4:04 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
4:52 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cape Coral
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Gainesville
FL

The third most populous city in Florida.

From Cape Coral
249.7 mi
04h 47m
To Panama City
249.3 mi
04h 47m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
86°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 9 mph NNE
Destination
76°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Cape Coral and Panama City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cape Coral and Panama City.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    29 m · 7 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Cape Coral Parkway East

    38 m · 7 sec · Cape Coral Parkway East

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Vincennes Boulevard

    109 m · 13 sec · Vincennes Boulevard

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Vincennes Boulevard

    19 m · 2 sec · Vincennes Boulevard

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout onto Vincennes Boulevard

    2436 ft · 1 min · Vincennes Boulevard

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Coronado Parkway

    1 km · 2 min · Coronado Parkway

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Del Prado Boulevard South

    5.2 mi · 11 min · Del Prado Boulevard South

  8. 8

    Continue on Del Prado Boulevard North

    6.5 mi · 11 min · Del Prado Boulevard North

  9. 9

    Turn left onto North Tamiami Trail

    10.4 mi · 13 min · North Tamiami Trail

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Tuckers Grade

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Tuckers Grade

  11. 11

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 75 North: Tampa

    2299 ft · 56 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    276.8 mi · 4 hr 58 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee

    820 ft · 16 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 10 West: Tallahassee

    1569 ft · 30 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight right

    121.8 mi · 2 hr 11 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward FL 12: Gretna, Greensboro

    1341 ft · 46 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on FL `12 South: Greensboro

    112 m · 11 sec

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto Greensboro Highway

    2.4 mi · 4 min · Greensboro Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on Selman Street

    3018 ft · 1 min · Selman Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Green Avenue

    2342 ft · 57 sec · Green Avenue

  21. 21

    Continue on Bristol Highway

    17.7 mi · 23 min · Bristol Highway

  22. 22

    At the end of the road, turn right

    28.4 mi · 39 min

  23. 23

    Turn left

    24.1 mi · 32 min

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Harrison Avenue

    1 mi · 3 min · Harrison Avenue

  25. 25

    Turn left onto East 7th Street

    69 m · 12 sec · East 7th Street

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Luverne Avenue

    131 m · 19 sec · Luverne Avenue

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Luverne Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Cape Coral and Panama City.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
27 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75 North
277 mi · 56%
I 10 West
122 mi · 24%
Bristol Highway
17.7 mi · 4%
North Tamiami Trail
10.4 mi · 2%
Del Prado Boulevard North
6.5 mi · 1%
Del Prado Boulevard South
5.2 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 75 North

Merge slight left

277 mi · 04h 58m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
09h 34m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
19h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+163.5 mi
335.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Gainesville
04h 47m from Cape Coral
Leave By
4:52 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Cape Coral and Sunny near Panama City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cape Coral to Panama City?

The road trip is about 499 miles (803 km) and usually takes 09h 34m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Gainesville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 249.7 miles from Cape Coral and 249.3 miles from Panama City.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 335.5 miles (540 km), while the road route adds roughly 163.5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $73.05 one way or $146.09 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 156.5 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Cape Coral and Panama City, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Cape Coral and Sunny near Panama City.

Stop Ideas Near Gainesville

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Gainesville, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Gainesville.

BUS

Gainesville, Florida

201 East University Ave.
BUS

Waldo, Florida

22 mi away
14648 NE 147th Avenue
BUS

Ocala, Florida

54 mi away
531 Northeast First Ave
RAIL

Palatka

66 mi away
220 North 11th Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cape Coral and Panama City. Straight-line distance: 335.57 mi (540.05 km).

Cape Coral

#1 Cape Coral

The second most populous city in Lee County, Florida.

Population200,972
Coordinates26.5628500, -81.9495300
Altitude1
CountryUnited States
Panama City

#2 Panama City

County seat of Bay County, Florida, United States

Population34,667
Coordinates30.1594600, -85.6598300
Altitude8
CountryUnited States
Start: Cape Coral (-81.94953, 26.56285)
End: Panama City (-85.65983, 30.15946)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 803 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)16h 37m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)12h 28m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)09h 58m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 18m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)07h 07m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
17.61 gal
66.65 L · about $73.05
Round trip
$146.09
35.22 gal · 133.3 L
Estimated CO2
156.5 kg one way
Round trip: 313 kg / 690 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $73.05 $146.09
Mid-grade $4.60 $80.94 $161.87
Premium $4.90 $86.22 $172.44
Diesel $4.35 $76.60 $153.21

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Florida · Apr 17, 2026

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Cape Coral, FL and Panama City, FL. The current time in Cape Coral is 10:01:32, although it is 09:01:32 in Panama City.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.