Drive or Fly: Santa Fe, TX to Austin, TX?
Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.
Driving wins
MediumNo scheduled commercial flights found for HOU–AUS. At 197 miles, driving is the only practical option.
Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)
· · Fuel cost: $
Drive
Door to Door
3h 44m
Distance
197.5 mi
Total Cost
$79
CO2
80 kg
Cost Breakdown
Fly
Door to Door
3h 2m
20m in the air
Air Distance
170 mi
Total Cost
$127
CO2
43 kg
Door-to-Door Timeline
Cost Breakdown
Airports
No scheduled flights found
No commercial flights between HOU and AUS. Flight estimates above are theoretical.
At a Glance
| Drive | Fly | |
|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door time | 3h 44m | 3h 2m |
| Total cost (1 person) | $79 | $127 |
| Carbon footprint | 80 kg CO2 | 43 kg CO2 |
| Flexibility | High | Low |
| Luggage | Unlimited | Restricted |
| Reliability | Weather dependent | Data unavailable |
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.
via TX 71, I 10; US 90, I 45
via TX 71, I 10; US 90, TX 6
Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Santa Fe, TX to Austin, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.