Drive or Fly: McCamey, TX to Arlington, TX?

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

Driving wins

Medium

Short enough to drive comfortably in a day. Airport overhead makes flying slower door-to-door. Available flights require a connection, adding time and cost.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 42m

Distance

386.1 mi

Total Cost

$108

CO2

156 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$73

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 20m

38m in the air

Air Distance

320 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

82 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

McCamey, TX → MAF 84m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 38m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DFW → Arlington, TX 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Arlington, TX DFW — Dallas Fort Worth International Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

96.4%

Cancellation

3.6%

+ Saves about 2h 22m 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

16h 51m

15h 11m on rail

Total Cost

$70

CO2

22 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

McCamey, TX → Sanderson Amtrak (SND) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 911m

Arrival 10m

Fort Worth (FTW) → Arlington, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $70) $70

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

Stations

From SND — Sanderson Amtrak 0 mi, ~30m drive

To FTW — Fort Worth 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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 3 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	6h 42m	4h 20m	16h 51m
Total cost (1 person)	$108	$188	$70
Carbon footprint	156 kg CO₂	82 kg CO₂	22 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	96% 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 Jul 20, 2026.

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