Drive or Fly: Montopolis, TX to Los Fresnos, 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–BRO. At 318 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 5m

Distance

318.4 mi

Total Cost

$105

CO2

129 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$70

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

3h 3m

35m in the air

Air Distance

289 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

74 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Montopolis, TX → AUS 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 35m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BRO → Los Fresnos, TX 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Los Fresnos, TX BRO — Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 2m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

9h 25m

8h on road

Total Cost

$33

CO2

18 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Montopolis, TX → Austin Eastside Bus Plaza (AUS6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 480m

Arrival 10m

Brownsville Bus Station (BRN6) → Los Fresnos, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $33) $33

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

Stations

From AUS6 — Austin Eastside Bus Plaza 0 mi, ~30m drive

To BRN6 — Brownsville Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	6h 5m	3h 3m	9h 25m
Total cost (1 person)	$105	$187	$33
Carbon footprint	129 kg CO₂	74 kg CO₂	18 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: FlixBus 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 Apr 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

318.4 mi 6h 4m

via US 77, I 69E; US 77, US 181

Alternative (+6 min)

343.9 mi 6h 11m

via I 37, I 69E; US 77, I 35

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