One hundred and fifty-eight nautical miles to Nassau. From Miami it is 159.7. A mile and a half of difference. If you are choosing between the two origins, the decision is not made by looking at a map. Quoted per aircraft on request.
The numbers, to get them out of the way
| Origin | Distance to Nassau |
|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | 158.2 NM · 293 km |
| Miami (MIA) | 159.7 NM · 296 km |
| Separation between FLL and MIA | 18.3 NM |
In flight time the difference is indistinguishable. Anyone telling you one origin is "faster" than the other is selling you noise.
Where there is a real difference is on the ground, and there it can run to an hour or more.
Ground services at these fields are limited and vary by aerodrome and by hour.
How the departure airport is actually chosen
Three criteria, in this order.
One: where you are. Eighteen nautical miles in a straight line between FLL and MIA is a great deal more by road, and in South Florida rush hour the gap widens sharply. If you are staying in Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton or Palm Beach, departing from FLL spares you the worst stretch of the day.
Two: whether you are connecting from a scheduled flight. Arriving on a commercial service and departing from the same airport removes a ground transfer with luggage and an uncertain margin.
Three: the general-aviation services at the specific field. This is the criterion that weighs most and gets looked at least. Operating hours, customs processing availability, ground handling facilities, and congestion at the hour you actually want to leave.
We do not publish that third point without operational confirmation, because it changes: The aircraft may need to reposition to the departure aerodrome, and that leg forms part of the quote.
South Florida is not one airport, it is several
The metropolitan area offers a number of general-aviation options besides the two international airports. Their profiles differ on proximity to downtown, congestion and available services.
For a hundred-and-sixty-nautical-mile crossing, choosing the departure field well affects your trip more than choosing the aircraft does. It is counterintuitive and it is true: the aeroplane will take the same time; the car journey will not.
Nassau and the formalities
International flight between the United States and the Bahamas, with departure and entry. Departure and entry formalities vary by country and need lead time; we coordinate them with every passenger’s details.
The corridor between South Florida and the Bahamas carries one of the highest densities of private aviation in the world. The practical consequence is not about flight time but slots: in high season and on long weekends, lead time outweighs every other variable.
The aircraft
At 158 nautical miles there are plenty of options and no runway restriction at the destination. The assignment depends on the group, the baggage and the date. Before confirming we check that the assigned aircraft accepts the destination field under that date’s forecast conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Is it faster to depart from Fort Lauderdale or Miami?
In the air the difference is 1.5 nautical miles: indistinguishable. The real difference is the ground journey to the airport.
Which should I choose, then?
It depends on where you are staying, whether you are connecting from a scheduled flight, and the services at the specific field at the hour you want to leave. The aircraft may need to reposition to the departure aerodrome, and that leg forms part of the quote.
How long does it take to reach Nassau?
The flight covers 158.2 nautical miles. Add immigration and customs at both ends, which on a sector this short usually outweigh the flight.
How much does a charter from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas cost?
Quoted per aircraft on request, not per passenger. Send us the date and the group and we confirm in writing.
How far ahead should I book?
The South Florida–Bahamas corridor has a very high density of private aviation. In high season and on long weekends, lead time is the deciding variable.
What aircraft operates the route?
Before confirming we check that the assigned aircraft accepts the destination field under that date’s forecast conditions. At this distance there is no runway restriction at Nassau, so the decision turns on the group and the baggage.
Enquire
Related routes: Miami to Nassau · Miami to Grand Cayman · Miami to Turks & Caicos · All Caribbean routes · All destinations
See also: Door-to-lodge transfer