Drive or Fly: North Key Largo, FL to Port Saint Lucie, 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–VRB. At 165 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 17m

Distance

165.7 mi

Total Cost

$72

CO2

67 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$37

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 50m

17m in the air

Air Distance

140 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

36 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

North Key Largo, FL → MIA 55m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

VRB → Port Saint Lucie, FL 38m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

North Key Largo, FL MIA — Miami International Airport 37 mi, ~55m drive

Port Saint Lucie, FL VRB — Vero Beach Regional Airport 25 mi, ~38m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MIA and VRB. 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

4h 54m

2h 29m on rail

Total Cost

$21

CO2

6 kg

Route

Floridian

Door-to-Door Timeline

North Key Largo, FL → Miami Amtrak Station 61m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 149m

Arrival 10m

Okeechobee Amtrak → Port Saint Lucie, FL 44m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $21) $21

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

Stations

From Miami Amtrak Station 40 mi, ~61m drive

To Okeechobee Amtrak 30 mi, ~44m 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	3h 17m	3h 50m	4h 54m
Total cost (1 person)	$72	$126	$21
Carbon footprint	67 kg CO₂	36 kg CO₂	6 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 13, 2026.

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