Drive or Fly: Garland, TX to New Braunfels, 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 392 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 5m

Distance

392.8 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

159 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$87

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

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 15m

40m in the air

Air Distance

333 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

85 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Garland, TX → TXK 59m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 40m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SAT → New Braunfels, TX 36m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

New Braunfels, TX SAT — San Antonio International Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 50m 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

15h 47m

13h 48m on rail

Total Cost

$67

CO2

19 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Garland, TX → Texarkana Amtrak Station 55m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 828m

Arrival 10m

San Marcos Amtrak → New Braunfels, TX 24m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $67) $67

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

Stations

From Texarkana Amtrak Station 37 mi, ~55m drive

To San Marcos Amtrak 16 mi, ~24m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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 6 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 5m	4h 15m	15h 47m
Total cost (1 person)	$122	$188	$67
Carbon footprint	159 kg CO₂	85 kg CO₂	19 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 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

392.8 mi 7h 4m

via I 30, I 35, I 35E

Shortest (+26 min)

382.5 mi 7h 30m

via US 79, TX 155, US 79; US 190

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