Drive or Fly: Ralls, TX to Houston, TX?

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

Driving wins

Medium

Driving is significantly cheaper and the distance is manageable in one day.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

9h 47m

Distance

526.8 mi

Total Cost

$134

CO2

213 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$99

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 46m

53m in the air

Air Distance

445 mi

Total Cost

$193

CO2

114 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ralls, TX → LBB 38m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 53m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

HOU → Houston, TX 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $138) $138

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Houston, TX HOU — William P. Hobby Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 6h 1m 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	9h 47m	3h 46m
Total cost (1 person)	$134	$193
Carbon footprint	213 kg CO₂	114 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	100% 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 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

526.8 mi 9h 46m

via TX 71, US 84, TX 153

Alternative (+10 min)

557 mi 9h 56m

via I 45, US 82; TX 114, US 82; US 287

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