Drive or Fly: Lake Butler, FL to Tallahassee, 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 MCO–TLH. At 249 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 42m

Distance

249.5 mi

Total Cost

$90

CO2

101 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$55

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 57m

25m in the air

Air Distance

212 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

54 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lake Butler, FL → MCO 22m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 25m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TLH → Tallahassee, FL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Lake Butler, FL MCO — Orlando International Airport 15 mi, ~22m drive

Tallahassee, FL TLH — Tallahassee International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MCO and TLH. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 38m

4h 50m on road

Total Cost

$24

CO2

13 kg

Route

FlixBus 2410

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lake Butler, FL → Orlando Bus Station (ORL6) 13m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 290m

Arrival 10m

Tallahassee (CK Steele Bus Plaza) (TAL6) → Tallahassee, FL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $24) $24

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

Stations

From ORL6 — Orlando Bus Station 8 mi, ~13m drive

To TAL6 — Tallahassee (CK Steele Bus Plaza) 0 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 42m	2h 57m	5h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$90	$183	$24
Carbon footprint	101 kg CO₂	54 kg CO₂	13 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

249.5 mi 4h 42m

via I 75, I 10, Florida's Turnpike

Shortest (+17 min)

237.7 mi 4h 59m

via US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate, US 27, Florida's Turnpike

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Lake Butler, FL to Tallahassee, FL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.