Drive or Fly: McKinney, TX to Alpine, 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

9h 31m

Distance

541.9 mi

Total Cost

$149

CO2

219 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$114

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

7h 6m

55m in the air

Air Distance

458 mi

Total Cost

$193

CO2

117 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

McKinney, TX → DAL 42m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 55m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MAF → Alpine, TX 209m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $138) $138

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

McKinney, TX DAL — Dallas Love Field 28 mi, ~42m drive

Alpine, TX MAF — Midland International Air and Space Port 139 mi, ~209m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 2h 25m 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

23h 30m

21h 53m on rail

Total Cost

$87

CO2

25 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

McKinney, TX → Dallas 47m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1313m

Arrival 10m

Alpine Amtrak Station → Alpine, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $87) $87

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

Stations

From Dallas 31 mi, ~47m drive

To Alpine Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~10m 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	9h 31m	7h 6m	23h 30m
Total cost (1 person)	$149	$193	$87
Carbon footprint	219 kg CO₂	117 kg CO₂	25 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 4, 2026.

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