Drive or Fly: Del Rio, TX to Grand Prairie, 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 39m

Distance

418.5 mi

Total Cost

$114

CO2

169 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$79

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 25m

39m in the air

Air Distance

328 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

84 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Del Rio, TX → SJT 210m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 39m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DFW → Grand Prairie, TX 16m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Grand Prairie, TX DFW — Dallas Fort Worth International Airport 11 mi, ~16m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

97.9%

Cancellation

2.2%

+ 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

15h 51m

14h 11m on rail

Total Cost

$68

CO2

24 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Del Rio, TX → Del Rio Amtrak Station (DRT) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 851m

Arrival 10m

Dallas (DAL) → Grand Prairie, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $68) $68

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

Stations

From DRT — Del Rio Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To DAL — Dallas 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	7h 39m	6h 25m	15h 51m
Total cost (1 person)	$114	$188	$68
Carbon footprint	169 kg CO₂	84 kg CO₂	24 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	98% 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 20, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

418.5 mi 7h 38m

via US 277, I 20, US 277; US 377

Alternative (+18 min)

430.3 mi 7h 57m

via US 90, I 35; US 290, I 35

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