Drive or Fly: Austin, TX to Pittsburg, 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–GGG. At 285 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 23m

Distance

285.4 mi

Total Cost

$89

CO2

115 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$54

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 47m

30m in the air

Air Distance

249 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

64 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Austin, TX → AUS 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 30m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GGG → Pittsburg, TX 67m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Pittsburg, TX GGG — East Texas Regional Airport 45 mi, ~67m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between AUS and GGG. 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

10h 32m

8h 52m on rail

Total Cost

$47

CO2

17 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Austin, TX → Austin (AUS) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 532m

Arrival 10m

Longview (LVW) → Pittsburg, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $47) $47

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

Stations

From AUS — Austin 0 mi, ~30m drive

To LVW — Longview 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	5h 23m	3h 47m	10h 32m
Total cost (1 person)	$89	$185	$47
Carbon footprint	115 kg CO₂	64 kg CO₂	17 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

285.4 mi 5h 23m

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

Shortest (+13 min)

282.1 mi 5h 37m

via US 79, TX 155, US 271

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