Drive or Fly: Garland, TX to Fair Oaks Ranch, 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 TXK–SAT. At 437 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 57m

Distance

437.7 mi

Total Cost

$127

CO2

177 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$92

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

4h 8m

42m in the air

Air Distance

350 mi

Total Cost

$189

CO2

89 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Garland, TX → TXK 59m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 42m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SAT → Fair Oaks Ranch, TX 27m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $134) $134

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Garland, TX TXK — Texarkana Regional Airport (Webb Field) 39 mi, ~59m drive

Fair Oaks Ranch, TX SAT — San Antonio International Airport 18 mi, ~27m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between TXK and SAT. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 49m 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

18h 38m

16h 26m on rail

Total Cost

$76

CO2

22 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Garland, TX → Texarkana Amtrak Station 55m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 986m

Arrival 10m

San Antonio Amtrak Station → Fair Oaks Ranch, TX 37m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $76) $76

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

Stations

From Texarkana Amtrak Station 37 mi, ~55m drive

To San Antonio Amtrak Station 25 mi, ~37m 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 57m	4h 8m	18h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$127	$189	$76
Carbon footprint	177 kg CO₂	89 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 Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

437.7 mi 7h 57m

via I 30, I 35, I 35E

Shortest (+17 min)

424.9 mi 8h 14m

via I 30, US 281, US 67

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Garland, TX to Fair Oaks Ranch, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.