Drive or Fly: Dallas, TX to Iraan, TX?

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

Driving wins

Medium

Driving is significantly cheaper and the distance is manageable in one day.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 18m

Distance

411.2 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

166 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$91

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 39m

39m in the air

Air Distance

325 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

83 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Dallas, TX → DAL 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 39m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MAF → Iraan, TX 110m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Dallas, TX DAL — Dallas Love Field 5 mi, ~10m drive

Iraan, TX MAF — Midland International Air and Space Port 73 mi, ~110m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 2h 39m 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 29m

19h 49m on rail

Total Cost

$75

CO2

24 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Dallas, TX → Dallas 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1189m

Arrival 10m

Sanderson Amtrak → Iraan, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $75) $75

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

Stations

From Dallas 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Sanderson Amtrak 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~5/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 5 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	7h 18m	4h 39m	21h 29m
Total cost (1 person)	$126	$188	$75
Carbon footprint	166 kg CO₂	83 kg CO₂	24 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 May 27, 2026.

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