Drive or Fly: Ruskin, FL to Hollywood, 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 28m

Distance

243.8 mi

Total Cost

$81

CO2

98 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$46

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

22m in the air

Air Distance

184 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

47 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ruskin, FL → TPA 28m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 22m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FLL → Hollywood, FL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Ruskin, FL TPA — Tampa International Airport 19 mi, ~28m drive

Hollywood, FL FLL — Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

95.2%

Cancellation

4.9%

+ 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

6h 50m

5h 25m on road

Total Cost

$21

CO2

14 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ruskin, FL → St. Petersburg (FL) (4SP) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 325m

Arrival 10m

Hollywood Sheridan Trirail Station (HOL6) → Hollywood, FL 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $21) $21

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

Stations

From 4SP — St. Petersburg (FL) 0 mi, ~30m drive

To HOL6 — Hollywood Sheridan Trirail Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/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 8 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 28m	3h	6h 50m
Total cost (1 person)	$81	$182	$21
Carbon footprint	98 kg CO₂	47 kg CO₂	14 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	95% 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

243.8 mi 4h 27m

via I 75, I 595, I 95

Alternative (+43 min)

255.7 mi 5h 10m

via Florida's Turnpike, FL 60, FL 674

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