Drive or Fly: Mount Vernon, TX to Austin, 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 TYR–AUS. At 297 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 15m

Distance

297.6 mi

Total Cost

$101

CO2

120 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$66

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 8m

30m in the air

Air Distance

250 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

64 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mount Vernon, TX → TYR 88m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 30m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AUS → Austin, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Mount Vernon, TX TYR — Tyler Pounds Regional Airport 59 mi, ~88m drive

Austin, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between TYR and AUS. 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

10h 55m

9h 15m on rail

Total Cost

$43

CO2

17 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mount Vernon, TX → Mineola 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 555m

Arrival 10m

Austin → Austin, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $43) $43

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

Stations

From Mineola 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Austin 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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 6 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	5h 15m	4h 8m	10h 55m
Total cost (1 person)	$101	$185	$43
Carbon footprint	120 kg CO₂	64 kg CO₂	17 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 Apr 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

297.6 mi 5h 15m

via I 30, I 35, I 35E

Shortest (+39 min)

290.6 mi 5h 55m

via US 79, US 79; US 190, TX 155

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