Drive or Fly: Ralls, 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

5h 35m

Distance

305 mi

Total Cost

$93

CO2

123 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$58

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 27m

31m in the air

Air Distance

256 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

65 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ralls, TX → LBB 38m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 31m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DFW → Arlington, TX 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Ralls, TX LBB — Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport 25 mi, ~38m drive

Arlington, TX DFW — Dallas Fort Worth International Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

95.0%

Cancellation

5.0%

+ Saves about 2h 8m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 10m

5h 45m on road

Total Cost

$31

CO2

18 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ralls, TX → Lubbock Citibus DT Transfer Plaza (LUB6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 345m

Arrival 10m

Arlington (7-Eleven) (ART6) → Arlington, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $31) $31

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

Stations

From LUB6 — Lubbock Citibus DT Transfer Plaza 0 mi, ~30m drive

To ART6 — Arlington (7-Eleven) 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	5h 35m	3h 27m	7h 10m
Total cost (1 person)	$93	$185	$31
Carbon footprint	123 kg CO₂	65 kg CO₂	18 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	95% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: FlixBus 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

305 mi 5h 34m

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

Alternative (+15 min)

321.8 mi 5h 50m

via US 84, TX 207, I 30

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