Drive or Fly: East Lake, 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

5h 11m

Distance

273.1 mi

Total Cost

$87

CO2

110 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$52

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 55m

25m in the air

Air Distance

209 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

53 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

East Lake, FL → TPA 20m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 25m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FLL → Fort Lauderdale, FL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

East Lake, FL TPA — Tampa International Airport 14 mi, ~20m drive

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

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

95.2%

Cancellation

4.9%

+ Saves about 2h 16m 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

6h 28m

4h 48m on rail

Total Cost

$38

CO2

16 kg

Route

Floridian

Door-to-Door Timeline

East Lake, FL → Tampa (TPA) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 288m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $38) $38

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

Stations

From TPA — Tampa 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

+ 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	5h 11m	2h 55m	6h 28m
Total cost (1 person)	$87	$183	$38
Carbon footprint	110 kg CO₂	53 kg CO₂	16 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	95% on-time

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 Jul 20, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

273.1 mi 5h 11m

via I 75, I 275, CR 611

Shortest (+16 min)

264.8 mi 5h 28m

via Florida's Turnpike, FL 60, I 4

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