Drive or Fly: Key Largo, FL to Orlando, 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–MCO. At 294 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

5h 41m

Distance

294.8 mi

Total Cost

$100

CO2

119 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$65
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 57m

29m in the air

Air Distance

245 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

63 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Key Largo, FL → MIA 75m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 29m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
MCO → Orlando, FL 13m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Key Largo, FL MIA — Miami International Airport 50 mi, ~75m drive
Orlando, FL MCO — Orlando International Airport 9 mi, ~13m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MIA and MCO. 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

7h 28m

5h 17m on rail

Total Cost

$39

CO2

11 kg

Route

Silver Meteor

Door-to-Door Timeline

Key Largo, FL → Miami Amtrak Station 81m
Boarding 30m
Train ride 317m
Arrival 10m
Orlando → Orlando, FL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $39) $39

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

Stations

From Miami Amtrak Station 54 mi, ~81m drive
To Orlando 1 mi, ~10m 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 5h 41m 3h 57m 7h 28m
Total cost (1 person) $100 $185 $39
Carbon footprint 119 kg CO2 63 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 12, 2026.

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