Drive or Fly: Del Rio, TX to El Paso, 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 SJT–ELP. At 425 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 27m

Distance

425.2 mi

Total Cost

$129

CO2

172 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$94

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

6h 26m

45m in the air

Air Distance

371 mi

Total Cost

$190

CO2

95 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Del Rio, TX → SJT 210m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 45m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ELP → El Paso, TX 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Del Rio, TX SJT — San Angelo Regional Mathis Field 140 mi, ~210m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SJT and ELP. 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

9h 33m

8h 33m on rail

Total Cost

$74

CO2

22 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Del Rio, TX → Del Rio Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 513m

Arrival 10m

El Paso → El Paso, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $74) $74

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

Stations

From Del Rio Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

To El Paso 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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 6 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 27m	6h 26m	9h 33m
Total cost (1 person)	$129	$190	$74
Carbon footprint	172 kg CO₂	95 kg CO₂	22 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 Apr 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

425.2 mi 7h 27m

via I 10; US 67, US 90, US 285

Alternative (+22 min)

472.6 mi 7h 49m

via I 10, US 277; US 377, US 90; US 277; US 377

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