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Drive or Fly: Ames, TX to Fort Worth, TX?

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

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for IAH–FTW. At 285 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 7m

Distance

285.2 mi

Total Cost

$98

CO2

115 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$63
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
+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying
− Wear and tear on vehicle
− Fuel price fluctuations
Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 33m

29m in the air

Air Distance

239 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

61 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ames, TX → IAH 54m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 29m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
FTW → Fort Worth, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Ames, TX IAH — George Bush Intercontinental Airport 36 mi, ~54m drive
Fort Worth, TX FTW — Fort Worth Meacham International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between IAH and FTW. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue
+ Predictable arrival time
− Airport security and check-in overhead
− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route
− May need a rental car at destination
− Luggage fees and restrictions
− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

Drive Fly
Door-to-door time 5h 7m 3h 33m
Total cost (1 person) $98 $185
Carbon footprint 115 kg CO2 61 kg CO2
Flexibility High Low
Luggage Unlimited Restricted
Reliability Weather dependent Data unavailable
Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices
Flight data: Statistical estimate
Airports: OurAirports
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 Apr 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest
285.2 mi 5h 7m

via I 45, US 287, TX 99 Toll

Alternative (+8 min)
292.3 mi 5h 15m

via TX 6, I 35W, TX 99 Toll

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