Drive or Fly: Harlem, FL to Saint Augustine, 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 264 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

5h 24m

Distance

264.5 mi

Total Cost

$94

CO2

107 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$59

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

3h 53m

26m in the air

Air Distance

219 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

56 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Harlem, FL → RSW 77m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

UST → Saint Augustine, FL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Saint Augustine, FL UST — Northeast Florida Regional Airport 5 mi, ~10m 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

9h 19m

7h 6m on rail

Total Cost

$35

CO2

10 kg

Route

Floridian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Harlem, FL → Okeechobee Amtrak 54m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 426m

Arrival 10m

Palatka Amtrak → Saint Augustine, FL 39m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $35) $35

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

Stations

From Okeechobee Amtrak 36 mi, ~54m drive

To Palatka Amtrak 26 mi, ~39m 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	5h 24m	3h 53m	9h 19m
Total cost (1 person)	$94	$184	$35
Carbon footprint	107 kg CO₂	56 kg CO₂	10 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 13, 2026.

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