Drive or Fly: El Paso, TX to Friendswood, 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 48m

Distance

767.1 mi

Total Cost

$342

CO2

310 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$162

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

3h 48m

1h 23m in the air

Air Distance

688 mi

Total Cost

$290

CO2

175 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

El Paso, TX → ELP 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 83m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

HOU → Friendswood, TX 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $235) $235

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Friendswood, TX HOU — William P. Hobby Airport 9 mi, ~14m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.7%

Cancellation

1.3%

+ Saves about 9h 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

19h 44m

18h 25m on rail

Total Cost

$135

CO2

39 kg

Route

Sunset Limited

Door-to-Door Timeline

El Paso, TX → El Paso 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1105m

Arrival 10m

Houston → Friendswood, TX 29m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

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

Stations

From El Paso 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Houston 19 mi, ~29m 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	12h 48m	3h 48m	19h 44m
Total cost (1 person)	$342	$290	$135
Carbon footprint	310 kg CO₂	175 kg CO₂	39 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	99% 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 Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

767.1 mi 12h 47m

via I 10, I 10; US 180, I 10; TX 130

Alternative (+77 min)

807.1 mi 14h 4m

via I 10, I 10; US 180, TX 71

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