Drive or Fly: Arlington, TX to Odessa, 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 50m

Distance

335.6 mi

Total Cost

$98

CO2

136 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$63

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 14m

38m in the air

Air Distance

313 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

80 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, TX → DFW 18m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 38m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MAF → Odessa, TX 18m

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

Odessa, TX MAF — Midland International Air and Space Port 12 mi, ~18m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

96.4%

Cancellation

3.6%

+ Saves about 2h 36m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 15m

5h 50m on road

Total Cost

$33

CO2

19 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, TX → Arlington (7-Eleven) (ART6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 350m

Arrival 10m

Midland (Stripes) (ODE6) → Odessa, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $33) $33

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

Stations

From ART6 — Arlington (7-Eleven) 0 mi, ~30m drive

To ODE6 — Midland (Stripes) 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/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 8 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	5h 50m	3h 14m	7h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$98	$188	$33
Carbon footprint	136 kg CO₂	80 kg CO₂	19 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	96% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: 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 Jul 21, 2026.

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