Drive or Fly: Harlem, FL to Fleming Island, 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–UST. At 295 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 5m

Distance

295.6 mi

Total Cost

$100

CO2

119 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$65

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 22m

28m in the air

Air Distance

237 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

60 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Harlem, FL → RSW 77m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 28m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

UST → Fleming Island, FL 37m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Fleming Island, FL UST — Northeast Florida Regional Airport 25 mi, ~37m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between RSW and UST. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

10h 41m

8h 39m on rail

Total Cost

$44

CO2

13 kg

Route

Floridian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Harlem, FL → Okeechobee Amtrak 54m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 519m

Arrival 10m

Jacksonville → Fleming Island, FL 28m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $44) $44

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

Stations

From Okeechobee Amtrak 36 mi, ~54m drive

To Jacksonville 19 mi, ~28m 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	6h 5m	4h 22m	10h 41m
Total cost (1 person)	$100	$184	$44
Carbon footprint	119 kg CO₂	60 kg CO₂	13 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

295.6 mi 6h 4m

via Florida's Turnpike, I 95, I 4

Shortest (+9 min)

279.3 mi 6h 14m

via US 27, FL 19, US 27; FL 80

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