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Drive or Fly: Jacksonville, FL to North Key Largo, 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

7h 27m

Distance

395.8 mi

Total Cost

$118

CO2

160 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$83
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 55m

43m in the air

Air Distance

359 mi

Total Cost

$189

CO2

92 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Jacksonville, FL → JAX 17m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 43m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
MIA → North Key Largo, FL 55m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $134) $134
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Jacksonville, FL JAX — Jacksonville International Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive
North Key Largo, FL MIA — Miami International Airport 37 mi, ~55m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 3h 32m 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 1m

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 → North Key Largo, FL 61m

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 40 mi, ~61m 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 7h 27m 3h 55m 11h 1m
Total cost (1 person) $118 $189 $65
Carbon footprint 160 kg CO2 92 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
395.8 mi 7h 27m

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

Alternative (+79 min)
426.7 mi 8h 46m

via US 27, I 95, I 4

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