Drive or Fly: Union Park, FL to Fort Lauderdale, 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 3m

Distance

212.4 mi

Total Cost

$87

CO2

86 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$52

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 47m

22m in the air

Air Distance

183 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

47 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Union Park, FL → MCO 15m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 22m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FLL → Fort Lauderdale, FL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Union Park, FL MCO — Orlando International Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

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

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.8%

Cancellation

1.2%

+ 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 5m

5h 25m on rail

Total Cost

$37

CO2

12 kg

Route

Silver Meteor

Door-to-Door Timeline

Union Park, FL → Winter Park Amtrak Station (WPK) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 325m

Arrival 10m

Fort Lauderdale Amtrak Station (FTL) → Fort Lauderdale, FL 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $37) $37

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

Stations

From WPK — Winter Park Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To FTL — Fort Lauderdale Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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 7 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 13m

3h 48m on road

Total Cost

$20

CO2

12 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Union Park, FL → Orlando Bus Station (ORL6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 228m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $20) $20

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

Stations

From ORL6 — Orlando Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

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

Service

Direct

Frequency

~18/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	4h 3m	2h 47m	7h 5m	5h 13m
Total cost (1 person)	$87	$182	$37	$20
Carbon footprint	86 kg CO₂	47 kg CO₂	12 kg CO₂	12 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	99% 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 Oct 24, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

212.4 mi 4h 2m

via Florida's Turnpike, I 95, FL 528 Toll

Alternative (+0 min)

212.8 mi 4h 3m

via I 95, Florida's Turnpike, FL 528 Toll

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Union Park, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.