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Getting to Orlando: Air, Road or Rail?

Make it to Florida's amusement parks in better shape than the Griswolds

Don't let poor planning ruin your family vacation to Orlando. See our list for the cheapest way to travel.
WARNER BROS./PHOTOFEST

They say getting there is half the fun. That may depend on your mode of travel. If you’re planning an early-fall getaway, you need to consider not just the cost but also your time. We crunched the numbers for planes, trains and automobiles (plus buses) for round-trip travel to the popular vacation destination Orlando, Florida, from three U.S. cities. Here’s what we found.

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Car

About $300 in gas round trip, 20 hours driving each way

About $200 in gas round trip, 15 hours driving each way

About $875 in gas round trip, 44 hours driving each way

MBI / Alamy Stock Photo

Train

$372, about 27 to 28 hours each way, transfer in New York

$388, about 52 to 55 hours each way, transfers in Chicago and Washington

$584, about 94 to 102 hours each way, transfers in Chicago and Washington

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Bus

$276, about 28 to 29 hours each way, with transfers in two cities

$226, about 22½ hours each way, with a transfer in Atlanta

$377, about 63 to 68 hours each way, with three transfers outbound, five transfers returning

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Plane

$178, nonstop, on Spirit Airlines, about three hours each way

$194, nonstop, on Frontier  Airlines, about 2½ hours each way

$438, nonstop, outbound: Alaska Airlines; returning: United Airlines; about 5½ hours each way

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