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Drive or Fly: Rhode Island, TX to Weslaco, TX?

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

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for ACT–MFE. At 471 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

8h 55m

Distance

471.9 mi

Total Cost

$139

CO2

191 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$104
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
− Driver fatigue on longer stretches
− Wear and tear on vehicle
− Fuel price fluctuations
Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 43m

49m in the air

Air Distance

405 mi

Total Cost

$191

CO2

103 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Rhode Island, TX → ACT 91m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 49m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
MFE → Weslaco, TX 23m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $136) $136
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Rhode Island, TX ACT — Waco Regional Airport 60 mi, ~91m drive
Weslaco, TX MFE — McAllen Miller International Airport 15 mi, ~23m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ACT and MFE. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 4h 12m compared to driving
+ Less physical fatigue
+ Predictable arrival time
− Airport security and check-in overhead
− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route
− 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 8h 55m 4h 43m
Total cost (1 person) $139 $191
Carbon footprint 191 kg CO2 103 kg CO2
Flexibility High Low
Luggage Unlimited Restricted
Reliability Weather dependent Data unavailable
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 Apr 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest
471.9 mi 8h 55m

via US 77, I 69E; US 77, US 79

Alternative (+4 min)
513.3 mi 9h 0m

via TX 130 Toll, I 69C; US 281, US 281

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