Drive or Fly: Jacksonville, FL to Islamorada, FL?

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

Driving wins

Medium

Driving is significantly cheaper and the distance is manageable in one day.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

8h 9m

Distance

421.6 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

170 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$89

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

4h 38m

45m in the air

Air Distance

379 mi

Total Cost

$190

CO2

97 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Jacksonville, FL → JAX 17m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 45m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MIA → Islamorada, FL 96m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Jacksonville, FL JAX — Jacksonville International Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive

Islamorada, FL MIA — Miami International Airport 64 mi, ~96m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 3h 31m 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

11h 42m

9h 10m on rail

Total Cost

$65

CO2

19 kg

Route

Silver Meteor

Door-to-Door Timeline

Jacksonville, FL → Jacksonville 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 550m

Arrival 10m

Miami Amtrak Station → Islamorada, FL 102m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $65) $65

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

Stations

From Jacksonville 5 mi, ~10m drive

To Miami Amtrak Station 68 mi, ~102m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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 3 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	8h 9m	4h 38m	11h 42m
Total cost (1 person)	$124	$190	$65
Carbon footprint	170 kg CO₂	97 kg CO₂	19 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	100% 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 Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

421.6 mi 8h 8m

via I 95, Florida's Turnpike, Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

Alternative (+79 min)

452.5 mi 9h 28m

via US 27, I 95, I 4

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