Drive or Fly: Saint Augustine, FL to Harlem, 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 UST–RSW. At 275 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 29m

Distance

275.3 mi

Total Cost

$96

CO2

111 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$61

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 53m

26m in the air

Air Distance

219 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

56 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Augustine, FL → UST 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RSW → Harlem, FL 77m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Saint Augustine, FL UST — Northeast Florida Regional Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Harlem, FL RSW — Southwest Florida International Airport 52 mi, ~77m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between UST and RSW. 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

9h 15m

7h 2m on rail

Total Cost

$35

CO2

10 kg

Route

Floridian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Augustine, FL → Palatka Amtrak 39m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 422m

Arrival 10m

Okeechobee Amtrak → Harlem, FL 54m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $35) $35

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

Stations

From Palatka Amtrak 26 mi, ~39m drive

To Okeechobee Amtrak 36 mi, ~54m 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	4h 29m	3h 53m	9h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$96	$184	$35
Carbon footprint	111 kg CO₂	56 kg CO₂	10 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 18, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Saint Augustine, FL to Harlem, FL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.