Drive or Fly: Orlando, FL to Lake Panasoffkee, 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–SFB. At 52 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 8m

Distance

52.1 mi

Total Cost

$47

CO2

21 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$12

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 37m

6m in the air

Air Distance

46 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

12 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Orlando, FL → MCO 13m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 6m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SFB → Lake Panasoffkee, FL 78m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Orlando, FL MCO — Orlando International Airport 9 mi, ~13m drive

Lake Panasoffkee, FL SFB — Orlando Sanford International Airport 52 mi, ~78m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MCO and SFB. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

2h 37m

1h 20m on road

Total Cost

CO2

4 kg

Route

Greyhound US0761S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Orlando, FL → Orlando Bus Station (ORL6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 80m

Arrival 10m

Ocala Bus Stop (OCF6) → Lake Panasoffkee, FL 42m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $7) $7

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

Stations

From ORL6 — Orlando Bus Station 2 mi, ~10m drive

To OCF6 — Ocala Bus Stop 28 mi, ~42m 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	1h 8m	3h 37m	2h 37m
Total cost (1 person)	$47	$122	$7
Carbon footprint	21 kg CO₂	12 kg CO₂	4 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.

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