Drive or Fly: Austin, TX to Johnson, TX?

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

Driving wins

Medium

At this distance, driving is almost always faster and cheaper door-to-door.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 11m

Distance

159 mi

Total Cost

$68

CO2

64 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$33

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 51m

16m in the air

Air Distance

136 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Austin, TX → AUS 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

IAH → Johnson, TX 25m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

Johnson, TX IAH — George Bush Intercontinental Airport 17 mi, ~25m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	3h 11m	2h 51m
Total cost (1 person)	$68	$125
Carbon footprint	64 kg CO₂	35 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	100% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

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

159 mi 3h 10m

via US 290, US 290; TX 36, TX 99 Toll

Alternative (+3 min)

159.8 mi 3h 14m

via US 290, US 290; TX 36, TX 71

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