Drive or Fly: Alafaya, FL to Cape Coral, 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–RSW. At 172 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 2m

Distance

172.8 mi

Total Cost

$73

CO2

70 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$38

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

2h 52m

17m in the air

Air Distance

145 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

37 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alafaya, FL → MCO 17m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RSW → Cape Coral, FL 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Alafaya, FL MCO — Orlando International Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive

Cape Coral, FL RSW — Southwest Florida International Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MCO 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

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

6h 13m

5h 19m on road

Total Cost

$15

CO2

8 kg

Route

FlixBus 2421

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alafaya, FL → Orlando Bus Station (ORL6) 18m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 319m

Arrival 10m

Fort Myers Bus Stop (FTM6) → Cape Coral, FL 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $15) $15

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

Stations

From ORL6 — Orlando Bus Station 12 mi, ~18m drive

To FTM6 — Fort Myers Bus Stop 7 mi, ~11m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~28/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

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 2m	2h 52m	6h 13m
Total cost (1 person)	$73	$126	$15
Carbon footprint	70 kg CO₂	37 kg CO₂	8 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 21, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Alafaya, FL to Cape Coral, FL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.