Drive or Fly: Smithville, TX to Lubbock, TX?

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

Driving wins

Medium

Driving is significantly cheaper and the distance is manageable in one day.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 31m

Distance

413.9 mi

Total Cost

$113

CO2

167 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$78

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

3h 43m

44m in the air

Air Distance

370 mi

Total Cost

$190

CO2

94 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Smithville, TX → AUS 49m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 44m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LBB → Lubbock, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Smithville, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 33 mi, ~49m drive

Lubbock, TX LBB — Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 3h 48m compared to driving

+ 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	7h 31m	3h 43m
Total cost (1 person)	$113	$190
Carbon footprint	167 kg CO₂	94 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	100% on-time

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 Jul 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

413.9 mi 7h 31m

via US 84, TX 153, US 183

Alternative (+42 min)

441.7 mi 8h 13m

via US 87, TX 71, US 87; TX 158; TX 163

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