Port Canaveral has become the world’s busiest cruise port, with over six million passengers in 2023. So if you are taking a cruise from Florida in the US, what airport do you fly into to get to Port Canaveral?
There are several airports near Port Canaveral. In this article we will take a look at each, including their distance from the port and the transportation options available to get you there.
What airports are near Port Canaveral?
There are four airports located in close proximity to Port Canaveral in Florida. This makes it convenient for travellers to fly in and head to their cruise ship.
Port Canaveral cruise terminal is easily accessible from Melbourne Orlando Airport, Orlando International Airport, Orlando Sanford Airport and Daytona Beach Airport.
The airports closest to Port Canaveral are:
- Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB) – 27 miles (43 kilometres)
- Orlando International Airport (MCO) – 45 miles (72 kilometres)
- Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) – 57 miles (92 kilometres)
- Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) – 71 miles (114 kilometres)
How far is Port Canaveral from the airport?
Port Canaveral is located on the east coast of Florida, approximately 45 miles east of Orlando International Airport (MCO) – the largest airport in the state. But the closest airport to Port Canaveral is actually Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB). This is a smaller airport that lies 27 miles south of Port Canaveral.
Journey Times
From Orlando International Airport
If you are flying to Orlando International Airport (MCO) the journey from the airport to Port Canaveral should only take around 40 minutes. But it could be up to an hour, depending on the traffic conditions at the time of your journey.
As this is the international airport in the region, it’s what you’d normally consider as the ‘Port Canaveral airport’ if you’re flying in from the UK or any other country.
From Orlando Melbourne Airport
Even though Melbourne Orlando International Airport is 20 miles closer to Port Canaveral, you should still expect the journey to port to take between 45 minutes and an hour due to the slower road conditions and local traffic. Just because it’s the airport closest to Port Canaveral, that doesn’t mean it has the fastest connection time.
From Orlando Sanford Airport
Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) is approximately 57 miles from Port Canaveral. The driving time can vary depending on traffic conditions, but it typically takes around one hour and 15 minutes to one hour and 30 minutes.
From Daytona Beach Airport
Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) is located further up the coast, about 70 miles north of Port Canaveral. In light traffic, you can head straight down the I-95 in an hour, but it could take up to two hours in rush hour.
How To Get To Port Canaveral Cruise Port From The Airport
If you are planning a cruise from Port Canaveral and flying into Orlando for your vacation, it is important to plan your transportation ahead of time. There are several options for getting to Port Canaveral from the airport, including rental cars, taxis, shuttles and ride-sharing services such as Uber or Lyft.
A stress-free way to get to the port is to book a shuttle transfer in advance. This will give you a door-to-door service. It can pick you up at the airport and drop you off directly at the terminal at Port Canaveral.
You can check the latest shuttle prices here.
However you travel, be sure to allow plenty of time for your journey to the port. You will want to arrive at least a few hours before your cruise is scheduled to depart. This will give you enough time to check in, go through security and board the ship.
1. Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Orlando International Airport is the closest major airport to the port, situated about 45 miles west of Port Canaveral. This airport is one of the busiest in the state of Florida. It has flights to a wide range of destinations both domestically and internationally, and serves over 43 million passengers each year.
It’s a hub for Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines, and offers flights from many other major carriers as well. With its convenient location and wide range of flight options, Orlando International Airport is a popular choice for travellers flying to Port Canaveral.
There is a quick highway link to Port Canaveral, so it has the fastest transfer time between plane and ship. It’s also a great place to fly to if you want to see the sights before heading on your cruise. The close proximity of Disney World and Orlando Universal offers the chance to visit some of the world’s best theme parks before hitting the high seas.
How to get from Orlando International Airport to Port Canaveral
You can get from Orlando International Airport to Port Canaveral Cruise Port by road. The best options are to take a shared shuttle bus ($30) or an Uber (from $62). The total travel time should be between 40 minutes and an hour.
Shared shuttles run regularly between Orlando International Airport to Port Canaveral Port, and cost $30 per person. Unless you are travelling alone, it could be worth taking an Uber. This can be booked for $62 for an UberX or $92 for an UberXL (which will fit more passengers). It is also possible to get a regular taxi on arrival, which is likely to be slightly more expensive than an Uber.
2. Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB)
Melbourne Orlando International Airport is 27 miles from Port Canaveral.
Melbourne Orlando International Airport is a smaller regional airport that serves less than half a million passengers each year. While it may not have as many flight options as Orlando International Airport, it is still a convenient choice for travellers looking to fly into the Port Canaveral area.
It’s worth noting that although it is the closest airport to Port Canaveral, transfer times are usually slightly longer than from Orlando International Airport. It’s not a huge difference though, so go for whichever one has the most convenient or best-value flight options.
The airport is served by several major carriers, including American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. It offers flights to a variety of destinations in the United States, but it is a particularly convenient choice if you are heading here from Atlanta or Charlotte.
It’s a good choice for anyone who prefers smaller airports that are less busy. Plus, the transfer to Port Canaveral is more scenic if you drive from Melbourne Orlando International Airport.
How to get from Melbourne Orlando International Airport to Port Canaveral
You can get from Melbourne Orlando International Airport to Port Canaveral Cruise Port by road. You have the option to choose between a shared shuttle bus ($30) or an Uber (from $56). The total travel time to the port should be between 50 minutes and an hour.
Shared shuttles are available, but run less frequently from Melbourne than from Orlando International. I recommend that you book an Uber for around $56 (or $70 for a larger Uber XL), as shuttles are not always available.
3. Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB)
Orlando Sanford International Airport is 58 miles from Port Canaveral.
Orlando Sanford International Airport is slightly further away from the port than the other Orlando airports, but it may offer good value flight options for travellers.
The airport serves around three million passengers a year. The majority of these are domestic arrivals from elsewhere in the USA. Orlando Sanford International Airport is a major hub for Allegiant Airlines, which serves 30 cities across the United States, so it is a good option if you are coming from one of those cities. It’s a smaller and more relaxed airport than Orlando International Airport, but still has all the facilities you need.
It is often possible to find cheaper flights to Orlando Sanford International Airport than to the other airports in this list. When weighing up the value of the flights, consider that the transfer is a bit farther so may cost more. Time-wise, the transfer is around one hour, so not too much longer than the transfer from the main Orlando airport to Port Canaveral.
How to get from Orlando Sanford International Airport to Port Canaveral
You can get from Orlando Sanford Airport to Port Canaveral Cruise Port by road. The best options are to take a shared shuttle bus ($35) or an Uber (from $73). The total travel time should be around 60 to 75 minutes door to door.
Shared shuttles run between Orlando Sanford International Airport and Port Canaveral Port. They cost $35 per person. Unless you are travelling alone, it’s probably easiest to take an Uber which can be booked for $73 for an UberX or $101 for an UberXL (which will fit more passengers).
4. Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB)
Daytona Beach International Airport is 72 miles from Port Canaveral.
Daytona Beach International Airport is a bit farther away from the port, but still within a reasonable driving distance and takes just over an hour if traffic is light. This airport is served by several major carriers, including Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. It offers flights to a variety of destinations throughout the United States.
With its convenient location on the east coast of Florida, Daytona Beach International Airport is a good choice for travellers looking to spend a bit of time on the coast. The world-famous Daytona Beach is a great place to relax before or after their cruise.
How to get from Daytona Beach International Airport to Port Canaveral
You can get from Daytona Beach International Airport to Port Canaveral Cruise Port by road. This airport is not as frequently used to connect with Port Canaveral, so there are no shuttle buses. An Uber should cost around $104 ($148 for Uber XL). The journey should take 60 to 75 minutes.
It doesn’t take much longer to get to Port Canaveral from Daytona Beach, but it’s a longer distance so the cost of the transfer is a little higher. You can pre-book an Uber or get a taxi at the airport, and the cost will be just over $100. At the time of research, there were no shuttle buses available.
The Bottom Line
All of the airports in and around Orlando are within roughly an hour’s drive of the cruise port. So from a transfer point of view, I don’t think it matters too much which one you fly to.
I would be happy to fly to any of the four airports near Port Canaveral. I would choose my flights based on which ones were the best value and the most convenient at the other end.
If you want to take a shuttle bus to Port Canaveral, then Orlando International Airport has the most frequent shuttle buses and the quickest transfer time. But on my last cruises, I just took an Uber and found that to be super-convenient too.
If you have some time in Port Canaveral either before or after your cruise, check out this list of things to do near Port Canaveral Cruise Port for ideas on how best to spend the day.
Related Posts:
- Cruise Ports In Florida (With Map)
- Things To Do Near Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal
- Cruise Industry Statistics and Facts
Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
Does Go port pick up at Sanford Airport?