Drive or Fly: Key West, FL to Clearwater, 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

Distance

425.4 mi

Total Cost

$115

CO2

172 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$80

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

2h 51m

29m in the air

Air Distance

244 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

62 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Key West, FL → EYW 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 29m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PIE → Clearwater, FL 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Key West, FL EYW — Key West International Airport 1 mi, ~10m drive

Clearwater, FL PIE — St. Petersburg Clearwater International Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 6h 9m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	9h	2h 51m
Total cost (1 person)	$115	$185
Carbon footprint	172 kg CO₂	62 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

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

425.4 mi 8h 59m

via I 75, US 1, Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

Shortest (+23 min)

413.2 mi 9h 23m

via US 1, US 27, US 27; FL 80

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