Drive or Fly: Riviera Beach, FL to Gainesville, 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 PBI–GNV. At 267 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 58m

Distance

267 mi

Total Cost

$85

CO2

108 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$50

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 49m

29m in the air

Air Distance

242 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

62 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Riviera Beach, FL → PBI 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 29m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GNV → Gainesville, FL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Riviera Beach, FL PBI — President Donald J. Trump International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

Gainesville, FL GNV — Gainesville Regional Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PBI and GNV. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 9m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 35m on road

Total Cost

$27

CO2

15 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Riviera Beach, FL → West Palm Beach Bus Station (WPB) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 335m

Arrival 10m

Gainesville (4GV) → Gainesville, FL 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $27) $27

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

Stations

From WPB — West Palm Beach Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To 4GV — Gainesville 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	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 58m	2h 49m	7h
Total cost (1 person)	$85	$185	$27
Carbon footprint	108 kg CO₂	62 kg CO₂	15 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: 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

267 mi 4h 57m

via Florida's Turnpike, I 75, US 441

Alternative (+9 min)

273.5 mi 5h 6m

via Florida's Turnpike, I 95, I 75

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