Drive or Fly: The Hills, TX to El Paso, TX?

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

Could go either way

Medium

This distance is a toss-up. Drive if you want flexibility and lower cost, fly if you value time. Connecting flights add time.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

9h 40m

Distance

574.3 mi

Total Cost

$143

CO2

232 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$108

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 45m

1h 1m in the air

Air Distance

512 mi

Total Cost

$195

CO2

131 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

The Hills, TX → AUS 33m

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

The Hills, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 22 mi, ~33m drive

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

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 5h 55m 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

20h 43m

19h 3m on rail

Total Cost

$105

CO2

33 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

The Hills, TX → Austin (AUS) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1143m

Arrival 10m

El Paso (ELP) → El Paso, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $105) $105

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

Stations

From AUS — Austin 0 mi, ~30m drive

To ELP — El Paso 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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 3 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	9h 40m	3h 45m	20h 43m
Total cost (1 person)	$143	$195	$105
Carbon footprint	232 kg CO₂	131 kg CO₂	33 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

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 Jul 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

574.3 mi 9h 39m

via I 10, US 290, TX 71

Alternative (+36 min)

585.9 mi 10h 15m

via I 10, TX 71, US 190

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