Drive or Fly: Hollywood, FL to Mary Esther, FL?

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

Driving wins

Medium

No direct flights for FLL–VPS. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

11h 35m

Distance

627.7 mi

Total Cost

$319

CO2

254 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$139

Hotel (1 room, 1 night) $110

Meals (1 pax, 2 days) $70

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

− Requires 2 days of driving

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 25m

1h in the air

Air Distance

500 mi

Total Cost

$195

CO2

127 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Hollywood, FL → FLL 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 60m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

VPS → Mary Esther, FL 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $140) $140

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Hollywood, FL FLL — Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Mary Esther, FL VPS — Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between FLL and VPS. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 8h 10m 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	11h 35m	3h 25m
Total cost (1 person)	$319	$195
Carbon footprint	254 kg CO₂	127 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 17, 2026.

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