Drive or Fly: Petersburg, 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

Short enough to drive comfortably in a day. Airport overhead makes flying slower door-to-door. Available flights require a connection, adding time and cost.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 25m

Distance

398.3 mi

Total Cost

$110

CO2

161 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$75

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 19m

40m in the air

Air Distance

336 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

86 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Petersburg, TX → LBB 29m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 40m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AUS → Austin, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Petersburg, TX LBB — Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport 19 mi, ~29m drive

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

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 4h 6m 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 25m	3h 19m
Total cost (1 person)	$110	$188
Carbon footprint	161 kg CO₂	86 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 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

398.3 mi 7h 25m

via US 84, TX 153, US 183

Alternative (+43 min)

411.6 mi 8h 8m

via US 84, TX 29, US 83

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