Drive or Fly: South Miami, 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 MIA–TLH. At 486 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

9h 3m

Distance

486.9 mi

Total Cost

$143

CO2

197 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$108

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 9m

49m in the air

Air Distance

407 mi

Total Cost

$191

CO2

104 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Miami, FL → MIA 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 49m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TLH → Tallahassee, FL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $136) $136

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

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

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 5h 54m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

10h 25m

9h 40m on road

Total Cost

$44

CO2

23 kg

Route

FlixBus 2410

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Miami, FL → Miami Intermodal Center (MID6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 580m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $44) $44

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

Stations

From MID6 — Miami Intermodal Center 7 mi, ~10m 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	9h 3m	3h 9m	10h 25m
Total cost (1 person)	$143	$191	$44
Carbon footprint	197 kg CO₂	104 kg CO₂	23 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

486.9 mi 9h 3m

via Florida's Turnpike, I 75, I 10

Alternative (+48 min)

490.4 mi 9h 51m

via I 75, US 27, I 10

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