Drive or Fly: Tyler, TX to El Paso, TX?

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

Driving wins

Medium

No direct flights for TYR–ELP. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

12h 20m

Distance

733.6 mi

Total Cost

$342

CO2

296 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$162

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 40m

1h 19m in the air

Air Distance

656 mi

Total Cost

$287

CO2

167 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Tyler, TX → TYR 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 79m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ELP → El Paso, TX 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $232) $232

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Tyler, TX TYR — Tyler Pounds Regional Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between TYR and ELP. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 8h 40m compared to driving

+ 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

30h 13m

28h 33m on rail

Total Cost

$129

CO2

43 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Tyler, TX → Mineola 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1713m

Arrival 10m

El Paso → El Paso, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

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

Stations

From Mineola 0 mi, ~30m drive

To 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	12h 20m	3h 40m	30h 13m
Total cost (1 person)	$342	$287	$129
Carbon footprint	296 kg CO₂	167 kg CO₂	43 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: 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 Apr 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

733.6 mi 12h 19m

via I 20, I 10, US 69

Alternative (+82 min)

772.7 mi 13h 41m

via I 10, TX 31, TX 29

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