Traveling between Miami and Orlando is one of the busiest routes in Florida: thousands of people make this trip every week to visit the theme parks, see family, or catch a flight at Orlando International Airport (MCO). Here are the available options and when each one makes sense.
The options available
Flying
It's the fastest option in the air (just about 1 hour of flight time), but once you add check-in, security and getting to and from each airport, the total trip can take just as long as going by land. It also tends to be the most expensive option for such a short route.
Rental car
Gives you schedule freedom, but comes with the cost of the rental, gas, Florida Turnpike tolls, and the stress of driving for 4 hours — more if you're traveling at night or with kids.
Regular line bus
It's the cheapest option, but it only gets you to a terminal. From there you need another form of transportation to reach your hotel, your home, or whichever theme park is your final destination.
Door-to-door shuttle
It's the combination of comfort and price: you get picked up at your home, hotel or office and dropped off straight at your destination in Orlando, with no driving and no dependence on an intermediate terminal. The trip takes 4 to 5 hours, with a professional chauffeur and none of the stops of a line bus.
Which one fits your trip?
- If you're heading to Disney or Universal with the family: the door-to-door shuttle avoids hauling luggage and strollers through terminals.
- If you're traveling alone with little luggage: a line bus can be enough if your destination is close to the terminal.
- If you need to arrive at an exact time: the door-to-door shuttle coordinates pickup around your schedule, something neither flying nor a line bus offers door to door.
Our recommendation
For most travelers between Miami and Orlando, the door-to-door service is the most practical option: no driving, no hauling luggage through terminals, and a price — from $60 per trip — that's competitive against a rental car or a last-minute flight.