Drive or Fly: Austin, TX to Big Sandy, TX?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for AUS–TYR. At 252 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 45m

Distance

252 mi

Total Cost

$83

CO2

102 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$48

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 12m

27m in the air

Air Distance

223 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

57 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Austin, TX → AUS 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 27m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TYR → Big Sandy, TX 35m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Austin, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

Big Sandy, TX TYR — Tyler Pounds Regional Airport 23 mi, ~35m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between AUS and TYR. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

9h 32m

7h 52m on rail

Total Cost

$43

CO2

15 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Austin, TX → Austin (AUS) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 472m

Arrival 10m

Mineola (MIN) → Big Sandy, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $43) $43

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

Stations

From AUS — Austin 0 mi, ~30m drive

To MIN — Mineola 0 mi, ~30m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	4h 45m	3h 12m	9h 32m
Total cost (1 person)	$83	$184	$43
Carbon footprint	102 kg CO₂	57 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

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

252 mi 4h 44m

via TX 31, I 35; US 290, TX 155

Shortest (+13 min)

248.7 mi 4h 58m

via US 79, TX 155, TX 45 Toll; TX 130 Toll

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