Drive or Fly: Arlington, TX to Pasadena, 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

4h 51m

Distance

268.7 mi

Total Cost

$86

CO2

109 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$51

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 57m

29m in the air

Air Distance

238 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 → Pasadena, TX 10m

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

Pasadena, TX HOU — William P. Hobby Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

92.4%

Cancellation

7.6%

+ 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

8h 5m

6h 40m on road

Total Cost

$26

CO2

16 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 400m

Arrival 10m

Houston Bus Station (Greyhound) (HOU6) → Pasadena, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $26) $26

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

Stations

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

To HOU6 — Houston Bus Station (Greyhound) 0 mi, ~30m 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	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 51m	2h 57m	8h 5m
Total cost (1 person)	$86	$185	$26
Carbon footprint	109 kg CO₂	61 kg CO₂	16 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	92% 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

268.7 mi 4h 50m

via I 45, HTR, I 20

Alternative (+31 min)

286.1 mi 5h 21m

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

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