Drive or Fly: Laredo, TX to Waco, 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 LRD–ACT. At 335 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 58m

Distance

335.3 mi

Total Cost

$98

CO2

135 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$63

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

2h 58m

38m in the air

Air Distance

313 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

80 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Laredo, TX → LRD 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 38m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ACT → Waco, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Laredo, TX LRD — Laredo International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Waco, TX ACT — Waco Regional Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between LRD and ACT. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

8h 38m

7h 13m on road

Total Cost

$35

CO2

19 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Laredo, TX → Laredo Bus Station (LRO6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 433m

Arrival 10m

Waco Bus Stop (WAC6) → Waco, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $35) $35

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

Stations

From LRO6 — Laredo Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To WAC6 — Waco Bus Stop 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~22/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	5h 58m	2h 58m	8h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$98	$188	$35
Carbon footprint	135 kg CO₂	80 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: FlixBus 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 Jul 21, 2026.

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