Drive or Fly: Margate, FL to Orlando, 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

3h 47m

Distance

201.4 mi

Total Cost

$73

CO2

81 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$38

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

2h 52m

21m in the air

Air Distance

174 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

44 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Margate, FL → FLL 18m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 21m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MCO → Orlando, FL 13m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Margate, FL FLL — Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

Orlando, FL MCO — Orlando International Airport 9 mi, ~13m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

95.6%

Cancellation

4.4%

+ 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

5h 59m

4h 19m on rail

Total Cost

$34

CO2

12 kg

Route

Silver Meteor

Door-to-Door Timeline

Margate, FL → Deerfield Beach Amtrak Station (DFB) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 259m

Arrival 10m

Orlando (ORL) → Orlando, FL 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $34) $34

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

Stations

From DFB — Deerfield Beach Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To ORL — Orlando 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~16/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 10m

3h 45m on road

Total Cost

$20

CO2

12 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Margate, FL → Ft Lauderdale Broward Park & Ride (FTL6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 225m

Arrival 10m

Orlando Bus Station (ORL6) → Orlando, FL 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $20) $20

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

Stations

From FTL6 — Ft Lauderdale Broward Park & Ride 0 mi, ~30m drive

To ORL6 — Orlando Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~14/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

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	3h 47m	2h 52m	5h 59m	5h 10m
Total cost (1 person)	$73	$182	$34	$20
Carbon footprint	81 kg CO₂	44 kg CO₂	12 kg CO₂	12 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	96% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS, 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 21, 2026.

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