Drive or Fly: Montopolis, TX to Del Rio, 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 AUS–SJT. At 233 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 28m

Distance

233 mi

Total Cost

$79

CO2

94 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$44

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

6h 4m

24m in the air

Air Distance

202 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

51 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Montopolis, TX → AUS 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 24m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SJT → Del Rio, TX 210m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Del Rio, TX SJT — San Angelo Regional Mathis Field 140 mi, ~210m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between AUS and SJT. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

12h 10m

10h 30m on rail

Total Cost

$40

CO2

14 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Montopolis, TX → Austin (AUS) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 630m

Arrival 10m

Del Rio Amtrak Station (DRT) → Del Rio, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $40) $40

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

Stations

From AUS — Austin 0 mi, ~30m drive

To DRT — Del Rio Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ 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	4h 28m	6h 4m	12h 10m
Total cost (1 person)	$79	$183	$40
Carbon footprint	94 kg CO₂	51 kg CO₂	14 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: 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 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

233 mi 4h 28m

via US 90, I 35, I 410

Alternative (+1 min)

243.8 mi 4h 29m

via US 90, TX 130 Toll, I 10; US 90; TX 130

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