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Drive or Fly: The Woodlands, TX to Amarillo, 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

10h 15m

Distance

576.7 mi

Total Cost

$289

CO2

233 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$109
Hotel (1 room, 1 night) $110
Meals (1 pax, 2 days) $70
+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines
+ Stop anywhere along the route
+ Have your own car at the destination
− Requires 2 days of driving
− Driver fatigue on longer stretches
− Wear and tear on vehicle
− Fuel price fluctuations
Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 34m

1h 1m in the air

Air Distance

508 mi

Total Cost

$195

CO2

130 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

The Woodlands, TX → IAH 22m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 61m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
AMA → Amarillo, TX 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $140) $140
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

The Woodlands, TX IAH — George Bush Intercontinental Airport 15 mi, ~22m drive
Amarillo, TX AMA — Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

95.5%

Cancellation

4.6%

+ Saves about 6h 41m 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 10h 15m 3h 34m
Total cost (1 person) $289 $195
Carbon footprint 233 kg CO2 130 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
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
576.7 mi 10h 15m

via I 45, US 287, US 81; US 287

Alternative (+77 min)
632.5 mi 11h 32m

via US 84, I 27; US 87, TX 6

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