Drive or Fly: Lake City, FL to Miami, 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 56m

Distance

376.5 mi

Total Cost

$106

CO2

152 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$71

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 52m

41m in the air

Air Distance

340 mi

Total Cost

$189

CO2

87 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lake City, FL → GNV 61m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 41m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MIA → Miami, FL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $134) $134

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Lake City, FL GNV — Gainesville Regional Airport 41 mi, ~61m drive

Miami, FL MIA — Miami International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 3h 4m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

11h

9h 35m on road

Total Cost

$37

CO2

22 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lake City, FL → Lake City Bus Station (LCF6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 575m

Arrival 10m

Miami Intermodal Center (MID6) → Miami, FL 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $37) $37

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

Stations

From LCF6 — Lake City Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To MID6 — Miami Intermodal Center 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~9/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 9 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	6h 56m	3h 52m	11h
Total cost (1 person)	$106	$189	$37
Carbon footprint	152 kg CO₂	87 kg CO₂	22 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: FlixBus 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.

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