Drive or Fly: Arlington, TX to Garfield, 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

3h 42m

Distance

208.9 mi

Total Cost

$79

CO2

84 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$44

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

2h 49m

21m in the air

Air Distance

178 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

45 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, TX → DFW 18m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 21m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AUS → Garfield, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Garfield, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

99.4%

Cancellation

0.6%

+ 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

5h 58m

4h 39m on rail

Total Cost

$35

CO2

10 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, TX → Fort Worth 19m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 279m

Arrival 10m

Austin → Garfield, TX 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $35) $35

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

Stations

From Fort Worth 13 mi, ~19m drive

To Austin 13 mi, ~20m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 4 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 4m

6h 15m on road

Total Cost

$19

CO2

10 kg

Route

Greyhound US1159S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, TX → Arlington (7-Eleven) (ART6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 375m

Arrival 10m

Austin Eastside Bus Plaza (AUS6) → Garfield, TX 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $19) $19

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

Stations

From ART6 — Arlington (7-Eleven) 1 mi, ~10m drive

To AUS6 — Austin Eastside Bus Plaza 10 mi, ~14m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	3h 42m	2h 49m	5h 58m	7h 4m
Total cost (1 person)	$79	$182	$35	$19
Carbon footprint	84 kg CO₂	45 kg CO₂	10 kg CO₂	10 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

Transit: Amtrak GTFS, FlixBus 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 Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

208.9 mi 3h 41m

via I 35W, I 35, TX 130 Toll

Alternative (+3 min)

211.6 mi 3h 45m

via I 35, I 35E, TX 130 Toll

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