Melbourne Orlando International Airport – Not Where You Think It Is

Okay, let me clear something up right away because this trips people up constantly: Melbourne Orlando International Airport isn’t in Melbourne, Australia. Obviously. But it’s not really in Orlando either. It’s in Melbourne, Florida – a smaller city on the Space Coast, about an hour drive from the theme parks.

So Why’s Orlando in the Name?

Marketing. That’s pretty much it. Slapping “Orlando” on there helps people understand they’re in the general theme park region of Florida. Is it 70 miles to Disney? Yeah. That’s a stretch, honestly. But if you’re trying to avoid the zoo at MCO, it’s not completely unreasonable.

The airport’s been around since the 1920s and got a big boost during World War II as a naval air station. It’s evolved quite a bit since those days.

What’s It Actually Like to Fly Through?

Honestly? Pretty chill. Small airport energy. None of the chaos you deal with at Orlando’s main airport. Security actually moves. People aren’t stampeding to gates. The terminal covers the basics – food, free WiFi, charging stations, a business center if you need to get work done.

I’ve used MLB a few times when the flight prices worked out and I didn’t mind driving a bit extra. There’s something genuinely nice about starting or ending a trip without wanting to scream at strangers.

Getting to Where You’re Actually Going

Rental car is really the move here. All the big companies operate out of Melbourne. The airport connects well to I-95 and Highway 1, so getting around the region isn’t complicated.

Orlando attractions are realistically 60-90 minutes away, depending on traffic. Not ideal if you’re doing theme parks every day. But totally workable if you’re splitting time between the beach and maybe a Disney day or two.

The Real Reason This Airport Exists

Aerospace. That’s the thing people don’t realize. Kennedy Space Center is basically right up the road. A ton of aerospace and defense companies have operations in the Melbourne area. The longest runway here stretches over 10,000 feet – built to handle serious aircraft.

If your trip involves anything space-related, flying into MLB actually makes way more sense than fighting through MCO. Want to see a rocket launch? You’re already there. SpaceX, NASA, Blue Origin… all of it is right nearby.

When Melbourne Orlando Makes Sense

• You’re visiting the Space Coast specifically
• Flights are noticeably cheaper than into MCO
• You want a relaxed, easy airport experience
• You’re doing beach time (Melbourne’s on the coast) with some Orlando activities mixed in
• Business in the aerospace sector

When It Probably Doesn’t

• You’re doing an intense theme park trip and every hour matters
• Flight options to MLB don’t line up with your schedule
• You don’t want to rent a car

My Take

Melbourne Orlando isn’t for every trip, but it’s got its place. For Space Coast visits, relaxed Florida vacations, or aerospace business travel, it’s genuinely useful. Sometimes the price difference alone makes the extra drive completely worth it.

Just… don’t tell anyone you’re flying into “Melbourne” without specifying Florida. That Australia confusion gets old real fast.