Drive or Fly: Memphis, TX to Montopolis, TX?

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

Driving wins

Medium

Driving is significantly cheaper and the distance is manageable in one day.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 51m

Distance

442.5 mi

Total Cost

$119

CO2

179 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$84

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 44m

42m in the air

Air Distance

351 mi

Total Cost

$189

CO2

90 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Memphis, TX → AMA 112m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 42m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AUS → Montopolis, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $134) $134

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Memphis, TX AMA — Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport 75 mi, ~112m drive

Montopolis, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 3h 7m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	7h 51m	4h 44m
Total cost (1 person)	$119	$189
Carbon footprint	179 kg CO₂	90 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

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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

442.5 mi 7h 50m

via US 82; US 287, I 35, US 287

Shortest (+8 min)

406.8 mi 7h 59m

via US 62; US 83, US 183, US 83; US 84

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