Drive or Fly: Cape Coral, FL to Key West, FL?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for RSW–EYW. At 297 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 37m

Distance

297.2 mi

Total Cost

$101

CO2

120 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$66

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

2h 45m

17m in the air

Air Distance

139 mi

Total Cost

$181

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Cape Coral, FL → RSW 18m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

EYW → Key West, FL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Cape Coral, FL RSW — Southwest Florida International Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

Key West, FL EYW — Key West International Airport 1 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between RSW and EYW. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 52m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	6h 37m	2h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$101	$181
Carbon footprint	120 kg CO₂	35 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 15, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Cape Coral, FL to Key West, FL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.