Drive or Fly: McAllen, TX to El Paso, TX?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No direct flights for MFE–ELP. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

13h 19m

Distance

789.6 mi

Total Cost

$354

CO2

319 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$174

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

3h 37m

1h 16m in the air

Air Distance

629 mi

Total Cost

$285

CO2

160 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

McAllen, TX → MFE 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 76m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ELP → El Paso, TX 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $230) $230

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

McAllen, TX MFE — McAllen Miller International Airport 2 mi, ~10m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MFE and ELP. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 9h 42m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	13h 19m	3h 37m
Total cost (1 person)	$354	$285
Carbon footprint	319 kg CO₂	160 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

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

789.6 mi 13h 18m

via I 10; US 87, US 281, I 69C; US 281

Shortest (+16 min)

749.1 mi 13h 34m

via I 10; US 67, US 83, US 90

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