Drive or Fly: Tallahassee, FL to Rock Island, 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 TLH–FLL. At 453 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

8h 22m

Distance

453.4 mi

Total Cost

$135

CO2

183 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$100

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 6m

46m in the air

Air Distance

387 mi

Total Cost

$190

CO2

99 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Tallahassee, FL → TLH 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 46m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FLL → Rock Island, FL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Rock Island, FL FLL — Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 5h 16m 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

9h 40m

8h 55m on road

Total Cost

$43

CO2

23 kg

Route

FlixBus 2410

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 535m

Arrival 10m

Ft Lauderdale Broward Park & Ride (FTL6) → Rock Island, FL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $43) $43

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

Stations

From TAL6 — Tallahassee (CK Steele Bus Plaza) 0 mi, ~10m drive

To FTL6 — Ft Lauderdale Broward Park & Ride 2 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	8h 22m	3h 6m	9h 40m
Total cost (1 person)	$135	$190	$43
Carbon footprint	183 kg CO₂	99 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 16, 2026.

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