The 4 Airports Near Port Canaveral Cruise Port: What You Need To Know

Port Canaveral has recently become the world’s busiest cruise port with over 4 million passengers in 2022. Maybe this year one of these passengers is going to be you! So, are you wondering what airport do you fly into to get to Port Canaveral?

Well, you are in luck as there are several airports near Port Canaveral, and in this post, we will take a look at each of these, their distance from the port, and the transportation options available to get you there.

What airports are near Port Canaveral, FL?

There are several airports located in close proximity to Port Canaveral, Florida, making it convenient for travelers to fly in and head to the 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
Orlando International Airport (MCO) – 45 miles
Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) – 57 miles
Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) – 71 miles

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. 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 upon the traffic conditions at the time of your journey.

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.

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 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 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 2 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 head 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 and 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, as 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 45 miles from Port Canaveral.

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 and serves a wide range of destinations both domestically and internationally, it 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 travelers 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 spend some time seeing 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 traveling alone it could be worth taking an Uber which 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, this 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, which 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 that prefers smaller airports that are less busy and it can’t be denied that 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 3 million passengers a year and 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 and it is a good option if you are coming from one of those cities. It’s a smaller, more relaxed airport than Orlando International Airport, but it 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 it is worth considering that the transfer is a bit further so may cost more. Time wise the transfer is around 1 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 60-75 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 is still within a reasonable driving distance and takes only just over an hour if traffic is light. This airport is served by several major carriers, including Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines, and 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 who are looking to spend a bit of time on the coast before or after their cruise. Daytona Beach is world-famous and a great place to relax at either end of your 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 that 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 bit 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 I don’t think that it matters too much which one you fly to from a transfer point of view.

I would be happy to fly to any of the four airports near Port Canaveral and 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 as well as the quickest transfer time. But on my last cruises, I just took an Uber and found that to be super convenient too.

If you happen to have some time in Port Canaveral either before or after your cruise, then be sure to check out this list of things to do near Port Canaveral Cruise Port for some ideas of how best to spend the day.