Drive or Fly: Hollywood, FL to Tarpon Springs, 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 FLL–PIE. At 278 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 18m

Distance

278.8 mi

Total Cost

$83

CO2

113 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$48

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 1m

26m in the air

Air Distance

218 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

56 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Hollywood, FL → FLL 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PIE → Tarpon Springs, FL 25m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Tarpon Springs, FL PIE — St. Petersburg Clearwater International Airport 17 mi, ~25m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 17m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 30m

6h 23m on road

Total Cost

$22

CO2

11 kg

Route

FlixBus 2421

Door-to-Door Timeline

Hollywood, FL → Hollywood Sheridan Trirail Station (HOL6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 383m

Arrival 10m

University of South Florida (4US) → Tarpon Springs, FL 32m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $22) $22

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

Stations

From HOL6 — Hollywood Sheridan Trirail Station 2 mi, ~10m drive

To 4US — University of South Florida 22 mi, ~32m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~14/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	5h 18m	3h 1m	7h 30m
Total cost (1 person)	$83	$184	$22
Carbon footprint	113 kg CO₂	56 kg CO₂	11 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: FlixBus 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

278.8 mi 5h 17m

via I 75, I 275; US 19, US 19

Shortest (+26 min)

277.4 mi 5h 44m

via Florida's Turnpike, FL 60, US 92

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