Updated August 2026 · 5 min read
What Orlando Sanford is
Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) is a smaller airport roughly 25 miles northeast of Orlando's main hotel and theme park corridor, served mostly by low-cost and charter carriers, particularly on international routes, rather than the broad mix of major airlines that use Orlando International Airport (MCO). It's easy to confuse the two given the shared "Orlando" branding — always double-check which airport your specific flight actually uses when booking.
SFB vs. MCO
| Orlando Sanford (SFB) | Orlando International (MCO) | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance to Disney | ~45+ minutes | ~20 miles / 30–45 min |
| Airline variety | Mostly charter/low-cost | Nearly all major airlines |
| Airport size | Small, simple to navigate | Large, busy, multiple terminals |
| Typical traveller | Specific low-cost/charter route | Most visitors |
See our MCO guide for the full details on Orlando's main airport.
When flying into SFB makes sense
Weigh the fare savings against the longer transfer
If a specific charter or low-cost route into SFB is meaningfully cheaper than the equivalent MCO flight, it can still be worth it — just factor the longer drive to your hotel area into both your budget and your arrival-day plans, particularly if you're arriving late or need to be at a park early the next morning.
SFB's smaller size does have one genuine upside: it's simple and fast to move through compared with MCO's larger terminal complex, which can offset some of the extra drive time with a smoother airport experience overall.
- Is SFB closer to Universal or Disney?
- Neither is particularly close — SFB sits northeast of the main tourist corridor, meaning a longer drive to both Disney and Universal compared with MCO.
- Should I choose my flight based on which Orlando airport it uses?
- It's worth factoring in, especially for late-night arrivals or early departures — a cheaper SFB fare can end up costing more in time and ground transport than a slightly pricier MCO flight, depending on your specific itinerary.