Drive or Fly: Atlantic Beach, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

Short enough to drive comfortably in a day. Airport overhead makes flying slower door-to-door. Available flights require a connection, adding time and cost.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 10m

Distance

326.2 mi

Total Cost

$97

CO2

132 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$62

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

36m in the air

Air Distance

301 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

77 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Atlantic Beach, FL → JAX 31m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 36m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FLL → Fort Lauderdale, FL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Atlantic Beach, FL JAX — Jacksonville International Airport 20 mi, ~31m drive

Fort Lauderdale, FL FLL — Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

90.9%

Cancellation

9.1%

+ Saves about 2h 53m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

9h 57m

8h 17m on rail

Total Cost

$62

CO2

19 kg

Route

Silver Meteor

Door-to-Door Timeline

Atlantic Beach, FL → Jacksonville (JAX) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 497m

Arrival 10m

Fort Lauderdale Amtrak Station (FTL) → Fort Lauderdale, FL 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $62) $62

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

Stations

From JAX — Jacksonville 0 mi, ~30m drive

To FTL — Fort Lauderdale Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

9h 25m

8h on road

Total Cost

$34

CO2

19 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Atlantic Beach, FL → Jacksonville (Downtown) (JAX6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 480m

Arrival 10m

Ft Lauderdale Broward Park & Ride (FTL6) → Fort Lauderdale, FL 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $34) $34

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

Stations

From JAX6 — Jacksonville (Downtown) 0 mi, ~30m drive

To FTL6 — Ft Lauderdale Broward Park & Ride 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~16/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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	6h 10m	3h 17m	9h 57m	9h 25m
Total cost (1 person)	$97	$187	$62	$34
Carbon footprint	132 kg CO₂	77 kg CO₂	19 kg CO₂	19 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	91% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS, 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 Jul 20, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

326.2 mi 6h 9m

via I 95, Florida's Turnpike, I 295

Alternative (+0 min)

330.3 mi 6h 10m

via I 95, I 295, SR A1A; FL 10

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Atlantic Beach, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.