Drive or Fly: Houston, TX to McCamey, 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

8h 17m

Distance

479 mi

Total Cost

$136

CO2

194 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$101

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 29m

50m in the air

Air Distance

419 mi

Total Cost

$192

CO2

107 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Houston, TX → HOU 15m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 50m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MAF → McCamey, TX 84m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $137) $137

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Houston, TX HOU — William P. Hobby Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

McCamey, TX MAF — Midland International Air and Space Port 56 mi, ~84m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 3h 48m 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

15h 12m

13h 32m on rail

Total Cost

$84

CO2

28 kg

Route

Sunset Limited

Door-to-Door Timeline

Houston, TX → Houston 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 812m

Arrival 10m

Sanderson Amtrak → McCamey, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $84) $84

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

Stations

From Houston 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Sanderson 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	8h 17m	4h 29m	15h 12m
Total cost (1 person)	$136	$192	$84
Carbon footprint	194 kg CO₂	107 kg CO₂	28 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	100% 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 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

479 mi 8h 16m

via I 10; US 87, I 10; US 90, Loop 1604

Shortest (+47 min)

478.1 mi 9h 4m

via TX 71, US 67, I 10; US 90

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