Drive or Fly: Miami, FL to Butler Beach, 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–UST. At 303 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 40m

Distance

303.3 mi

Total Cost

$102

CO2

123 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$67

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 2m

34m in the air

Air Distance

286 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

73 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Miami, FL → MIA 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 34m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

UST → Butler Beach, FL 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Miami, FL MIA — Miami International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Butler Beach, FL UST — Northeast Florida Regional Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MIA and UST. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 38m 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

8h 49m

7h 22m on rail

Total Cost

$55

CO2

16 kg

Route

Silver Meteor

Door-to-Door Timeline

Miami, FL → Miami Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 442m

Arrival 10m

Palatka Amtrak → Butler Beach, FL 37m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $55) $55

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

Stations

From Miami Amtrak Station 7 mi, ~10m drive

To Palatka Amtrak 25 mi, ~37m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

8h 44m

7h 35m on road

Total Cost

$29

CO2

15 kg

Route

FlixBus 2431

Door-to-Door Timeline

Miami, FL → Downtown Miami (4DM) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 455m

Arrival 10m

Palm Coast Bus Stop (PLM6) → Butler Beach, FL 34m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $29) $29

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

Stations

From 4DM — Downtown Miami 1 mi, ~10m drive

To PLM6 — Palm Coast Bus Stop 23 mi, ~34m 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	5h 40m	3h 2m	8h 49m	8h 44m
Total cost (1 person)	$102	$186	$55	$29
Carbon footprint	123 kg CO₂	73 kg CO₂	16 kg CO₂	15 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, 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

303.3 mi 5h 40m

via I 95, Florida's Turnpike, US 1

Alternative (+5 min)

309 mi 5h 45m

via I 95, US 1, FL 206

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