Drive or Fly: El Paso, TX to Little Elm, TX?

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

Driving wins

Medium

No direct flights for ELP–ACT. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

11h 47m

Distance

664.9 mi

Total Cost

$320

CO2

269 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$140

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

4h 10m

1h 9m in the air

Air Distance

576 mi

Total Cost

$198

CO2

147 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

El Paso, TX → ELP 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 69m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ACT → Little Elm, TX 50m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $143) $143

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Little Elm, TX ACT — Waco Regional Airport 33 mi, ~50m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ELP and ACT. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 7h 37m compared to driving

+ 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

20h 42m

19h 2m on rail

Total Cost

$107

CO2

39 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

El Paso, TX → El Paso 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1142m

Arrival 10m

Mcgregor Amtrak → Little Elm, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $107) $107

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

Stations

From El Paso 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Mcgregor 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	11h 47m	4h 10m	20h 42m
Total cost (1 person)	$320	$198	$107
Carbon footprint	269 kg CO₂	147 kg CO₂	39 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 Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

664.9 mi 11h 47m

via I 10, I 10; US 180, US 190

Shortest (+2 min)

657.7 mi 11h 49m

via I 10; US 180, I 20, TX 158

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