Cape Coral, FL

Cape Coral is the largest city in Southwest Florida, founded in 1957 and laid out around more than 400 miles of canals, many of them navigable to the Gulf of Mexico. People come for boating, fishing and waterfront living, and visitors often rent canal homes as a base for exploring Fort Myers and the islands.

Where is Cape Coral?

Cape Coral is in Lee County in the Southwest Florida region, across the Caloosahatchee River from Fort Myers. Two bridges connect it to Fort Myers: the Cape Coral Bridge (Cape Coral Parkway to College Parkway) and the Midpoint Memorial Bridge (Veterans Parkway to Colonial Boulevard). Southwest Florida International (RSW) is about 30 to 40 minutes away depending on traffic. The city has no Gulf beach of its own, so Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel are about 35 to 45 minutes by car. Rush-hour bridge traffic can be heavy, especially during the winter season.

Things to do in Cape Coral

Cape Coral Yacht Club Community Park, on the Caloosahatchee, has a small public beach and a fishing pier and is a favorite at sunset. Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve has an elevated trail through mangroves and a kayak launch, and Rotary Park offers nature trails and a butterfly garden. Watch for burrowing owls, which nest on vacant lots and roadsides across the city; Cape Coral has the largest population in Florida. Sun Splash Family Waterpark is the go-to for kids in summer. Winter and spring are peak season, with dry weather and the best boating conditions.