Drive or Fly: El Paso, TX to Taylor, 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

10h 22m

Distance

612 mi

Total Cost

$309

CO2

247 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$129

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 1m

1h 5m in the air

Air Distance

543 mi

Total Cost

$197

CO2

138 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

El Paso, TX → ELP 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 65m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AUS → Taylor, TX 45m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $142) $142

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Taylor, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 30 mi, ~45m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.6%

Cancellation

1.4%

+ Saves about 6h 21m 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

18h 32m

17h 32m on rail

Total Cost

$109

CO2

32 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

El Paso, TX → El Paso 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1052m

Arrival 10m

Taylor Amtrak → Taylor, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $109) $109

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

Stations

From El Paso 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Taylor Amtrak 0 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	10h 22m	4h 1m	18h 32m
Total cost (1 person)	$309	$197	$109
Carbon footprint	247 kg CO₂	138 kg CO₂	32 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 4, 2026.

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