Drive or Fly: El Paso, TX to San Leon, 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–HOU. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

13h 11m

Distance

785 mi

Total Cost

$353

CO2

317 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$173

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 12m

1h 25m in the air

Air Distance

705 mi

Total Cost

$291

CO2

180 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

El Paso, TX → ELP 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 85m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

HOU → San Leon, TX 36m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $236) $236

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

San Leon, TX HOU — William P. Hobby Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 8h 59m 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 5m

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 → San Leon, TX 50m

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 33 mi, ~50m 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	13h 11m	4h 12m	20h 5m
Total cost (1 person)	$353	$291	$135
Carbon footprint	317 kg CO₂	180 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 Apr 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

785 mi 13h 10m

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

Shortest (+67 min)

778.2 mi 14h 17m

via I 10, I 10; US 180, US 290

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