Drive or Fly: San Antonio, TX to Talty, 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 11m

Distance

289.6 mi

Total Cost

$96

CO2

117 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$61

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

257 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

66 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

San Antonio, TX → SAT 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 31m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DAL → Talty, TX 44m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

San Antonio, TX SAT — San Antonio International Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

Talty, TX DAL — Dallas Love Field 29 mi, ~44m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.9%

Cancellation

1.1%

+ 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

10h 3m

8h 35m on rail

Total Cost

$50

CO2

15 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

San Antonio, TX → San Antonio Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 515m

Arrival 10m

Dallas → Talty, TX 38m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $50) $50

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

Stations

From San Antonio Amtrak Station 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Dallas 25 mi, ~38m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~5/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 13m

6h 1m on road

Total Cost

$28

CO2

15 kg

Route

FlixBus 2230

Door-to-Door Timeline

San Antonio, TX → San Antonio Bus Station (SNT6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 361m

Arrival 10m

Downtown Dallas / Deep Ellum (2DA) → Talty, TX 37m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $28) $28

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

Stations

From SNT6 — San Antonio Bus Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

To 2DA — Downtown Dallas / Deep Ellum 25 mi, ~37m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~28/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

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	5h 11m	3h 27m	10h 3m	7h 13m
Total cost (1 person)	$96	$185	$50	$28
Carbon footprint	117 kg CO₂	66 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	99% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS, 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 Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

289.6 mi 5h 11m

via I 35; US 290, I 35, I 35E

Alternative (+51 min)

308.2 mi 6h 3m

via US 281, US 67, I 20

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