Drive or Fly: Arlington, TX to Del Rio, 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

7h 35m

Distance

412.4 mi

Total Cost

$113

CO2

167 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$78

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

6h 27m

39m in the air

Air Distance

323 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

82 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, TX → DFW 18m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 39m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SJT → Del Rio, TX 210m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Del Rio, TX SJT — San Angelo Regional Mathis Field 140 mi, ~210m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

96.8%

Cancellation

3.2%

+ 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

17h 4m

15h 24m on rail

Total Cost

$63

CO2

24 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, TX → Fort Worth (FTW) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 924m

Arrival 10m

Del Rio Amtrak Station (DRT) → Del Rio, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $63) $63

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

Stations

From FTW — Fort Worth 0 mi, ~30m drive

To DRT — Del Rio Amtrak Station 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	7h 35m	6h 27m	17h 4m
Total cost (1 person)	$113	$188	$63
Carbon footprint	167 kg CO₂	82 kg CO₂	24 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	97% 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 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

412.4 mi 7h 35m

via US 277, I 20, I 30; US 377

Alternative (+22 min)

429 mi 7h 57m

via US 90, I 35, I 35W

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