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

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

Driving wins

Medium

Short enough to drive comfortably in a day. Airport overhead makes flying slower door-to-door. Available flights require a connection, adding time and cost.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 13m

Distance

277.4 mi

Total Cost

$102

CO2

112 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$67
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 10m

29m in the air

Air Distance

239 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

61 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, TX → DFW 18m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 29m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
HOU → Brownwood, TX 23m

Cost Breakdown

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

Airports

Arlington, TX DFW — Dallas Fort Worth International Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive
Brownwood, TX HOU — William P. Hobby Airport 15 mi, ~23m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

94.1%

Cancellation

5.9%

+ Saves about 2h 3m 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 5h 13m 3h 10m
Total cost (1 person) $102 $185
Carbon footprint 112 kg CO2 61 kg CO2
Flexibility High Low
Luggage Unlimited Restricted
Reliability Weather dependent 94% 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 Oct 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest
277.4 mi 5h 12m

via I 45, HTR, I 20

Alternative (+30 min)
298 mi 5h 43m

via I 35W, TX 6, US 190; TX 6

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