Drive or Fly: Barrett, TX to El Paso, TX?

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

Could go either way

Medium

This distance is a toss-up. Drive if you want flexibility and lower cost, fly if you value time. Connecting flights add time.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

12h 45m

Distance

764.4 mi

Total Cost

$324

CO2

309 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$144

Hotel (1 room, 1 night) $110

Meals (1 pax, 2 days) $70

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

− Requires 2 days of driving

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 1m

1h 23m in the air

Air Distance

690 mi

Total Cost

$290

CO2

176 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Barrett, TX → IAH 27m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 83m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ELP → El Paso, TX 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $235) $235

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Barrett, TX IAH — George Bush Intercontinental Airport 18 mi, ~27m drive

El Paso, TX ELP — El Paso International Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 8h 44m 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

21h 10m

19h 30m on rail

Total Cost

$135

CO2

44 kg

Route

Sunset Limited

Door-to-Door Timeline

Barrett, TX → Houston (HOS) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1170m

Arrival 10m

El Paso (ELP) → El Paso, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

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

Stations

From HOS — Houston 0 mi, ~30m drive

To ELP — El Paso 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 3 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	12h 45m	4h 1m	21h 10m
Total cost (1 person)	$324	$290	$135
Carbon footprint	309 kg CO₂	176 kg CO₂	44 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

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

764.4 mi 12h 44m

via I 10; US 87, I 10; US 90, Loop 1604

Alternative (+84 min)

800.3 mi 14h 9m

via I 10, US 190, TX 6

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