Drive or Fly: Key Biscayne, FL to Jacksonville, 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 38m

Distance

351.2 mi

Total Cost

$101

CO2

142 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$66

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 13m

40m in the air

Air Distance

333 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

85 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Key Biscayne, FL → MIA 16m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 40m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

JAX → Jacksonville, FL 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Key Biscayne, FL MIA — Miami International Airport 11 mi, ~16m drive

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

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.0%

Cancellation

2.0%

+ Saves about 3h 25m 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

10h 26m

8h 46m on rail

Total Cost

$65

CO2

20 kg

Route

Silver Meteor

Door-to-Door Timeline

Key Biscayne, FL → Miami Amtrak Station (MIA) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 526m

Arrival 10m

Jacksonville (JAX) → Jacksonville, FL 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $65) $65

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

Stations

From MIA — Miami Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To JAX — Jacksonville 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~16/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

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	6h 38m	3h 13m	10h 26m
Total cost (1 person)	$101	$188	$65
Carbon footprint	142 kg CO₂	85 kg CO₂	20 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	98% 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 21, 2026.

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