Drive or Fly: Alpine, TX to Houston, TX?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Could go either way

Medium

This distance is a toss-up. Drive if you want flexibility and lower cost, fly if you value time. Connecting flights add time.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

9h 40m

Distance

571.5 mi

Total Cost

$143

CO2

231 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$108

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

6h 44m

1h in the air

Air Distance

498 mi

Total Cost

$195

CO2

127 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alpine, TX → MAF 209m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 60m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

HOU → Houston, TX 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $140) $140

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Alpine, TX MAF — Midland International Air and Space Port 139 mi, ~209m drive

Houston, TX HOU — William P. Hobby Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 2h 56m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

15h 55m

14h 15m on rail

Total Cost

$100

CO2

33 kg

Route

Sunset Limited

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alpine, TX → Alpine Amtrak Station (ALP) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 855m

Arrival 10m

Houston (HOS) → Houston, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $100) $100

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From ALP — Alpine Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To HOS — Houston 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 3 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	9h 40m	6h 44m	15h 55m
Total cost (1 person)	$143	$195	$100
Carbon footprint	231 kg CO₂	127 kg CO₂	33 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	100% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Jul 20, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

571.5 mi 9h 40m

via La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor, I 10; TX 130, I 10

Alternative (+77 min)

611.4 mi 10h 57m

via La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor, TX 71, US 190

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Alpine, TX to Houston, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.