Drive or Fly: The Woodlands, TX to Irving, TX?

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

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for IAH–DAL. At 224 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 2m

Distance

224 mi

Total Cost

$84

CO2

90 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$49

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

2h 56m

24m in the air

Air Distance

203 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

52 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

The Woodlands, TX → IAH 22m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 24m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DAL → Irving, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

The Woodlands, TX IAH — George Bush Intercontinental Airport 15 mi, ~22m drive

Irving, TX DAL — Dallas Love Field 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between IAH and DAL. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 43m

3h 58m on road

Total Cost

$22

CO2

11 kg

Route

FlixBus 2240

Door-to-Door Timeline

The Woodlands, TX → Windvale Center (2WI) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 238m

Arrival 10m

Dallas Market Center (2DM) → Irving, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $22) $22

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

Stations

From 2WI — Windvale Center 5 mi, ~10m drive

To 2DM — Dallas Market Center 5 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~14/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 2m	2h 56m	4h 43m
Total cost (1 person)	$84	$183	$22
Carbon footprint	90 kg CO₂	52 kg CO₂	11 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: FlixBus 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 Apr 19, 2026.

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