Compare: Miami→Cancun (850 km) vs Miami→Havana (368 km). Miami → Havana wins by 482 km (57%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 7, 2026
850 km
528 miles · Flight: ~1h 34min · Drive: ~13h 49min
368 km
229 miles · Flight: ~58 min · Drive: ~5h 59min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 482 km (57%) · Flight time difference: ~36 min
Verdict
Miami → Havana is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 482 km (57%) shorter, saves about 36 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 123 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Miami → Cancun only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Miami → Havana is the shorter route at 368 km, which is 482 km (57%) shorter than Miami → Cancun. You would save approximately 36 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Miami → Cancun | Miami → Havana |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 850 | 368 |
| Distance (miles) | 528 | 229 |
| Flight time | ~1h 34min | ~58 min |
| Driving time | ~13h 49min | ~5h 59min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~1,105 km | ~478 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 234° (SW) | 217° (SW) |
| Time-zone shift | -1h | None |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~217 kg | ~94 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~189 kg | ~82 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$111 USD | ~$48 USD |
Flying from Miami to Cancun produces roughly 217 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Miami → Havana flight emits about 94 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 123 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 6 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 189 kg and 82 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Miami to Cancun route covers 850 km (528 miles), staying within North America. Miami (population: 467,963) is located in South, United States, while Cancun (population: 888,797) is in Yucatan, Mexico.
The Miami to Havana route covers 368 km (229 miles), remaining within North America. Miami (population: 467,963) is in South, United States, and Havana (population: 2,141,000) is in Havana, Cuba.
Flying from Miami to Cancun takes approximately 1h 34min, while Miami to Havana takes 58 min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 13h 49min for the first route and 5h 59min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Miami, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Cancun and Havana as a destination.
The 482 km difference between these routes is substantial and will significantly impact travel time and cost.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 1,105 km and 478 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 627 km of driving.
Cancun (Mexico) has a population of 888,797 and is located in the Yucatan region of North America. It's a charming destination known for its regional character.
Havana (Cuba) has a population of 2,141,000 and is situated in Havana, North America. This city serves as an important regional hub with solid connectivity.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Cancun (Mexico) — a city of 888,797 in the Yucatan region of North America. Despite being the longer of the two at 850 km, it makes sense when Cancun itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 1,105 km of road and a fuel cost band around $111 USD. The initial bearing is 234° (SW), so a great-circle flight leaves Miami heading roughly SW.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Havana (Cuba) — a city of 2,141,000 in the Havana region of North America. It is also the shorter of the two at 368 km, saving about 36 min of flying and around 123 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 478 km of road and a fuel cost in the $48 USD range. Departing Miami, the great-circle bearing toward Havana is 217° (SW).
Miami (25.76°, -80.19°) and Cancun (21.16°, -86.85°) sit with a time-zone shift of -1 hour. Miami (25.76°, -80.19°) and Havana (23.11°, -82.37°) share an approximate time zone. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Havana is closer at 368 km, which is 482 km (57%) shorter.
850 km (528 miles). Flight: ~1h 34min.
368 km (229 miles). Flight: ~58 min.
Flying to Havana is faster at ~58 min, saving about 36 min compared to Cancun.
All distances on SnapDistance are calculated using the Haversine formula, which determines the great-circle distance between two points on Earth's surface. This gives the shortest possible distance over the globe, which is the measurement used for aviation and navigation. Actual travel distances by road or rail are typically 20-40% longer due to terrain, borders, and infrastructure routing. Flight times assume 800 km/h cruising speed with 30 minutes for takeoff and landing. Driving estimates use 80 km/h average speed with a 30% road distance factor.
📍 Data: Coordinates from OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances calculated using the Haversine formula. Travel times are estimates only. Last verified: April 7, 2026.