Drive or Fly: Key Largo, FL to Lakeland, 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–LAL. At 271 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 50m

Distance

271.3 mi

Total Cost

$95

CO2

110 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$60

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 52m

27m in the air

Air Distance

224 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

57 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Key Largo, FL → MIA 75m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 27m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LAL → Lakeland, FL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Key Largo, FL MIA — Miami International Airport 50 mi, ~75m drive

Lakeland, FL LAL — Lakeland Linder International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MIA and LAL. 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

8h 29m

6h 18m on rail

Total Cost

$37

CO2

11 kg

Route

Floridian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Key Largo, FL → Miami Amtrak Station 81m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 378m

Arrival 10m

Lakeland Amtrak Station → Lakeland, FL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $37) $37

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

Stations

From Miami Amtrak Station 54 mi, ~81m drive

To Lakeland Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~10m 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 50m	3h 52m	8h 29m
Total cost (1 person)	$95	$184	$37
Carbon footprint	110 kg CO₂	57 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

271.3 mi 5h 50m

via US 27, US 27; FL 80, Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

Alternative (+9 min)

296.6 mi 5h 59m

via Florida's Turnpike, FL 60, Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

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