Drive or Fly: Tampa, FL to Port Salerno, 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 TPA–PBI. At 175 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 37m

Distance

175 mi

Total Cost

$74

CO2

71 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$39

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 17m

18m in the air

Air Distance

149 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

38 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Tampa, FL → TPA 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PBI → Port Salerno, FL 49m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Tampa, FL TPA — Tampa International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Port Salerno, FL PBI — Palm Beach International Airport 33 mi, ~49m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between TPA and PBI. 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

5h 25m

3h 48m on rail

Total Cost

$34

CO2

10 kg

Route

Floridian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Tampa, FL → Tampa 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 228m

Arrival 10m

West Palm Beach Amtrak Station → Port Salerno, FL 47m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $34) $34

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

Stations

From Tampa 1 mi, ~10m drive

To West Palm Beach Amtrak Station 31 mi, ~47m 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 37m	3h 17m	5h 25m
Total cost (1 person)	$74	$126	$34
Carbon footprint	71 kg CO₂	38 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

175 mi 3h 36m

via FL 60, Florida's Turnpike, I 4

Alternative (+12 min)

198.4 mi 3h 49m

via Florida's Turnpike, I 4, CR 522

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Tampa, FL to Port Salerno, FL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.