Drive or Fly: Pittsburg, TX to El Paso, TX?

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

Driving wins

Medium

No direct flights for GGG–ELP. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

12h 56m

Distance

762.6 mi

Total Cost

$324

CO2

308 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$144

Hotel (1 room, 1 night) $110

Meals (1 pax, 2 days) $70

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

− Requires 2 days of driving

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 39m

1h 21m in the air

Air Distance

677 mi

Total Cost

$289

CO2

173 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Pittsburg, TX → GGG 67m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 81m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ELP → El Paso, TX 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $234) $234

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Pittsburg, TX GGG — East Texas Regional Airport 45 mi, ~67m drive

El Paso, TX ELP — El Paso International Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between GGG and ELP. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 8h 17m 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

31h 5m

29h 25m on rail

Total Cost

$138

CO2

44 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Pittsburg, TX → Longview (LVW) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1765m

Arrival 10m

El Paso (ELP) → El Paso, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $138) $138

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

Stations

From LVW — Longview 0 mi, ~30m drive

To ELP — El Paso 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ 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	12h 56m	4h 39m	31h 5m
Total cost (1 person)	$324	$289	$138
Carbon footprint	308 kg CO₂	173 kg CO₂	44 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

762.6 mi 12h 55m

via I 20, I 10, I 30

Alternative (+14 min)

779.8 mi 13h 10m

via I 20, I 10, TX 155

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