Drive or Fly: San Marcos, 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

4h 8m

Distance

228.6 mi

Total Cost

$91

CO2

92 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$56

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 23m

24m in the air

Air Distance

203 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

52 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

San Marcos, TX → AUS 41m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 24m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DFW → Arlington, TX 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

San Marcos, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 27 mi, ~41m drive

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

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

94.6%

Cancellation

5.4%

+ 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

7h 15m

5h 35m on rail

Total Cost

$40

CO2

13 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

San Marcos, TX → San Marcos Amtrak (SMC) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 335m

Arrival 10m

Fort Worth (FTW) → Arlington, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $40) $40

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

Stations

From SMC — San Marcos Amtrak 0 mi, ~30m drive

To FTW — Fort Worth 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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 6 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	4h 8m	3h 23m	7h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$91	$183	$40
Carbon footprint	92 kg CO₂	52 kg CO₂	13 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: 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 Oct 23, 2026.

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