Drive or Fly: Harlem, FL to Apopka, 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–SFB. At 167 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 35m

Distance

167.5 mi

Total Cost

$72

CO2

68 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$37

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

4h 1m

17m in the air

Air Distance

138 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Harlem, FL → RSW 77m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SFB → Apopka, FL 27m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Harlem, FL RSW — Southwest Florida International Airport 52 mi, ~77m drive

Apopka, FL SFB — Orlando Sanford International Airport 18 mi, ~27m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

7h 22m

5h 31m on rail

Total Cost

$20

CO2

6 kg

Route

Floridian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Harlem, FL → Okeechobee Amtrak 54m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 331m

Arrival 10m

Winter Park Amtrak Station → Apopka, FL 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $20) $20

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Okeechobee Amtrak 36 mi, ~54m drive

To Winter Park Amtrak Station 11 mi, ~17m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 2 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	3h 35m	4h 1m	7h 22m
Total cost (1 person)	$72	$126	$20
Carbon footprint	68 kg CO₂	35 kg CO₂	6 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

Transit: Amtrak GTFS — fares estimated

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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

167.5 mi 3h 35m

via US 27, US 27; FL 80, FL 429 Toll

Alternative (+2 min)

175.1 mi 3h 38m

via Florida's Turnpike, FL 78 Detour, US 441

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Harlem, FL to Apopka, FL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.