Drive or Fly: Princeton, TX to Lubbock, 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

6h 32m

Distance

346.5 mi

Total Cost

$119

CO2

140 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$84

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 33m

37m in the air

Air Distance

310 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

79 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Princeton, TX → DAL 46m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 37m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LBB → Lubbock, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Princeton, TX DAL — Dallas Love Field 31 mi, ~46m drive

Lubbock, TX LBB — Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.3%

Cancellation

1.7%

+ Saves about 2h 59m 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	6h 32m	3h 33m
Total cost (1 person)	$119	$187
Carbon footprint	140 kg CO₂	79 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	98% 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 Oct 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

346.5 mi 6h 32m

via US 82; TX 114, US 81; US 287, US 380

Alternative (+5 min)

380.3 mi 6h 38m

via I 20, US 84, SRT

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