Drive or Fly: Key Biscayne, FL to Palm Bay, 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 MIA–MLB. At 178 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 31m

Distance

178.3 mi

Total Cost

$74

CO2

72 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$39

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

2h 46m

20m in the air

Air Distance

164 mi

Total Cost

$127

CO2

42 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Key Biscayne, FL → MIA 16m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 20m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MLB → Palm Bay, FL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Airports

Key Biscayne, FL MIA — Miami International Airport 11 mi, ~16m drive

Palm Bay, FL MLB — Melbourne Orlando International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MIA and MLB. 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 6m

4h 49m on rail

Total Cost

$37

CO2

11 kg

Route

Silver Meteor

Door-to-Door Timeline

Key Biscayne, FL → Miami Amtrak Station 18m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 289m

Arrival 10m

Kissimmee Amtrak Station → Palm Bay, FL 79m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $37) $37

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

Stations

From Miami Amtrak Station 12 mi, ~18m drive

To Kissimmee Amtrak Station 53 mi, ~79m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~12/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 12 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 31m	2h 46m	7h 6m
Total cost (1 person)	$74	$127	$37
Carbon footprint	72 kg CO₂	42 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: 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

178.3 mi 3h 30m

via Florida's Turnpike, I 95, Rickenbacker Causeway

Alternative (+5 min)

184.1 mi 3h 36m

via I 95, Rickenbacker Causeway, I 95; US 1

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Key Biscayne, FL to Palm Bay, FL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.