Drive or Fly: Arlington, TX to Lytle, 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 29m

Distance

300.6 mi

Total Cost

$92

CO2

121 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$57

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 32m

31m in the air

Air Distance

262 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

67 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, TX → DFW 18m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 31m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SAT → Lytle, TX 43m

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

Lytle, TX SAT — San Antonio International Airport 29 mi, ~43m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.1%

Cancellation

1.9%

+ 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

9h 58m

8h 18m on rail

Total Cost

$48

CO2

17 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, TX → Fort Worth (FTW) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 498m

Arrival 10m

San Antonio Amtrak Station (SAS) → Lytle, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $48) $48

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

Stations

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

To SAS — San Antonio Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 4 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	5h 29m	3h 32m	9h 58m
Total cost (1 person)	$92	$185	$48
Carbon footprint	121 kg CO₂	67 kg CO₂	17 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	98% 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 20, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

300.6 mi 5h 28m

via I 35, I 35W, I 35; US 290

Alternative (+32 min)

304.4 mi 6h 1m

via US 281, US 67, CTP

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