Drive or Fly: Palatka, FL to Hialeah, FL?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for UST–OPF. At 304 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 52m

Distance

304.1 mi

Total Cost

$102

CO2

123 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$67

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 25m

33m in the air

Air Distance

275 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

70 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Palatka, FL → UST 42m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 33m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

OPF → Hialeah, FL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Palatka, FL UST — Northeast Florida Regional Airport 28 mi, ~42m drive

Hialeah, FL OPF — Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between UST and OPF. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 27m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

9h 44m

8h 4m on rail

Total Cost

$55

CO2

18 kg

Route

Silver Meteor

Door-to-Door Timeline

Palatka, FL → Palatka Amtrak 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 484m

Arrival 10m

Miami Amtrak Station → Hialeah, FL 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $55) $55

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

Stations

From Palatka Amtrak 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Miami Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/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

− Limited schedule — about 8 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

8h 50m

7h 25m on road

Total Cost

$29

CO2

18 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Palatka, FL → Palm Coast Bus Stop (PLM6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 445m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $29) $29

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

Stations

From PLM6 — Palm Coast Bus Stop 0 mi, ~30m drive

To MID6 — Miami Intermodal Center 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	5h 52m	3h 25m	9h 44m	8h 50m
Total cost (1 person)	$102	$186	$55	$29
Carbon footprint	123 kg CO₂	70 kg CO₂	18 kg CO₂	18 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

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 Apr 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

304.1 mi 5h 52m

via I 95, Florida's Turnpike, FL 100

Alternative (+6 min)

306.5 mi 5h 58m

via I 95, Florida's Turnpike, FL 100

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