Drive or Fly: Plano, TX to Redwood, 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

4h 30m

Distance

249.3 mi

Total Cost

$88

CO2

101 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$53

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 36m

28m in the air

Air Distance

233 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

59 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Plano, TX → DAL 22m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 28m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AUS → Redwood, TX 46m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Plano, TX DAL — Dallas Love Field 15 mi, ~22m drive

Redwood, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 31 mi, ~46m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.9%

Cancellation

1.1%

+ 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

8h 47m

7h 30m on rail

Total Cost

$42

CO2

12 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Plano, TX → Dallas 27m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 450m

Arrival 10m

San Marcos Amtrak → Redwood, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $42) $42

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

Stations

From Dallas 18 mi, ~27m drive

To San Marcos Amtrak 5 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 4 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 30m	3h 36m	8h 47m
Total cost (1 person)	$88	$184	$42
Carbon footprint	101 kg CO₂	59 kg CO₂	12 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	99% on-time

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 Jun 3, 2026.

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