Drive or Fly: South Miami, 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

5h 7m

Distance

280.2 mi

Total Cost

$88

CO2

113 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$53

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 45m

25m in the air

Air Distance

204 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

52 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Miami, FL → MIA 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 25m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TPA → Tampa, FL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

South Miami, FL MIA — Miami International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

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

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

97.9%

Cancellation

2.2%

+ Saves about 2h 22m compared to driving

+ 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

7h 6m

5h 26m on rail

Total Cost

$40

CO2

16 kg

Route

Floridian

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Miami, FL → Miami Amtrak Station (MIA) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 326m

Arrival 10m

Tampa (TPA) → Tampa, FL 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $40) $40

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

Stations

From MIA — Miami 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 26m

7h 1m on road

Total Cost

$22

CO2

16 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 421m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $22) $22

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

Stations

From MID6 — Miami Intermodal Center 0 mi, ~30m drive

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

Service

Direct

Frequency

~28/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	5h 7m	2h 45m	7h 6m	8h 26m
Total cost (1 person)	$88	$183	$40	$22
Carbon footprint	113 kg CO₂	52 kg CO₂	16 kg CO₂	16 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 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

280.2 mi 5h 7m

via I 75, Express Lanes, FL 618 Toll

Shortest (+17 min)

255.2 mi 5h 24m

via US 27, US 27; FL 80, FL 60

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