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Drive or Fly: Austin, TX to Monahans, 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

7h 2m

Distance

385.1 mi

Total Cost

$108

CO2

156 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$73
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 59m

38m in the air

Air Distance

319 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

81 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Austin, TX → AUS 10m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 38m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
MAF → Monahans, TX 71m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Austin, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive
Monahans, TX MAF — Midland International Air and Space Port 47 mi, ~71m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 3h 3m 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

At a Glance

Drive Fly
Door-to-door time 7h 2m 3h 59m
Total cost (1 person) $108 $188
Carbon footprint 156 kg CO2 81 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 Jul 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest
385.1 mi 7h 1m

via I 10, US 290, FM 1601

Shortest (+9 min)
371.6 mi 7h 11m

via US 87, TX 71, TX 158

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