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Drive or Fly: Portland, TX to Arlington, 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 2m

Distance

385.3 mi

Total Cost

$108

CO2

156 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$73
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 18m

40m in the air

Air Distance

336 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

86 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Portland, TX → CRP 20m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 40m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
DFW → Arlington, TX 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Portland, TX CRP — Corpus Christi International Airport 13 mi, ~20m drive
Arlington, TX DFW — Dallas Fort Worth International Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

97.0%

Cancellation

3.0%

+ Saves about 3h 44m 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 2m 3h 18m
Total cost (1 person) $108 $188
Carbon footprint 156 kg CO2 86 kg CO2
Flexibility High Low
Luggage Unlimited Restricted
Reliability Weather dependent 97% 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 20, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest
385.3 mi 7h 1m

via I 35, US 181, TX 130 Toll

Shortest (+14 min)
377.7 mi 7h 16m

via US 77, I 35W, I 35; US 77

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