Drive or Fly: Runaway Bay, TX to El Paso, TX?

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

Driving wins

Medium

No direct flights for MWL–ELP. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

10h 16m

Distance

613.6 mi

Total Cost

$315

CO2

248 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$135

Hotel (1 room, 1 night) $110

Meals (1 pax, 2 days) $70

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

− Requires 2 days of driving

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 55m

1h 1m in the air

Air Distance

511 mi

Total Cost

$195

CO2

130 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Runaway Bay, TX → MWL 43m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 61m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ELP → El Paso, TX 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $140) $140

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Runaway Bay, TX MWL — Mineral Wells Regional Airport 29 mi, ~43m drive

El Paso, TX ELP — El Paso International Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MWL and ELP. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 6h 21m 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

25h 5m

23h 25m on rail

Total Cost

$108

CO2

36 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Runaway Bay, TX → Fort Worth 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1405m

Arrival 10m

El Paso → El Paso, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $108) $108

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

Stations

From Fort Worth 0 mi, ~30m drive

To El Paso 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~5/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 5 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	10h 16m	3h 55m	25h 5m
Total cost (1 person)	$315	$195	$108
Carbon footprint	248 kg CO₂	130 kg CO₂	36 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

Transit: Amtrak 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 Apr 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

613.6 mi 10h 15m

via I 20, I 10, US 281

Shortest (+9 min)

590.4 mi 10h 25m

via I 20, I 10, TX 67

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Runaway Bay, TX to El Paso, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.