Drive or Fly: Arlington, TX to Alton, TX?

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

Driving wins

Medium

Driving is significantly cheaper and the distance is manageable in one day.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

9h 13m

Distance

524.1 mi

Total Cost

$134

CO2

212 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$99

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

3h 26m

54m in the air

Air Distance

451 mi

Total Cost

$193

CO2

115 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, TX → DFW 18m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 54m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MFE → Alton, TX 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $138) $138

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Arlington, TX DFW — Dallas Fort Worth International Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

Alton, TX MFE — McAllen Miller International Airport 9 mi, ~14m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.5%

Cancellation

1.5%

+ Saves about 5h 47m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	9h 13m	3h 26m
Total cost (1 person)	$134	$193
Carbon footprint	212 kg CO₂	115 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	99% on-time

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 Jul 20, 2026.

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