Drive or Fly: El Paso, TX to Cienegas Terrace, 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 ELP–SJT. At 428 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 35m

Distance

428 mi

Total Cost

$130

CO2

173 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$95

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

44m in the air

Air Distance

369 mi

Total Cost

$190

CO2

94 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

El Paso, TX → ELP 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 44m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SJT → Cienegas Terrace, TX 210m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Cienegas Terrace, TX SJT — San Angelo Regional Mathis Field 140 mi, ~210m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ELP and SJT. 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 27m

8h 27m on rail

Total Cost

$74

CO2

22 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

El Paso, TX → El Paso 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 507m

Arrival 10m

Del Rio Amtrak Station → Cienegas Terrace, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $74) $74

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

Stations

From El Paso 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Del Rio Amtrak Station 2 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 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	7h 35m	6h 25m	9h 27m
Total cost (1 person)	$130	$190	$74
Carbon footprint	173 kg CO₂	94 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 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

428 mi 7h 35m

via I 10; US 180, US 90, I 10

Alternative (+22 min)

475.1 mi 7h 58m

via I 10, I 10; US 180, US 277

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