Drive or Fly: Margate, FL to Tampa, 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

4h 42m

Distance

230.9 mi

Total Cost

$79

CO2

93 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$44

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 50m

22m in the air

Air Distance

182 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

46 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Margate, FL → FLL 18m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 22m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TPA → Tampa, FL 10m

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

Tampa, FL TPA — Tampa International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

97.6%

Cancellation

2.4%

+ 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

6h 11m

4h 31m on rail

Total Cost

$36

CO2

13 kg

Route

Floridian

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 30m

Train ride 271m

Arrival 10m

Tampa (TPA) → Tampa, FL 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $36) $36

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

Stations

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

To TPA — Tampa 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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

− Limited schedule — about 4 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

8h 35m

7h 10m on road

Total Cost

$21

CO2

13 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 430m

Arrival 10m

Tampa Bus Station (TPA6) → Tampa, FL 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $21) $21

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

Stations

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

To TPA6 — Tampa Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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 7 trips per week

− 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	4h 42m	2h 50m	6h 11m	8h 35m
Total cost (1 person)	$79	$182	$36	$21
Carbon footprint	93 kg CO₂	46 kg CO₂	13 kg CO₂	13 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, 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

230.9 mi 4h 42m

via Florida's Turnpike, FL 60, FL 618 Toll

Alternative (+11 min)

263.1 mi 4h 53m

via I 75, SR 869 Toll, FL 618 Toll

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