Drive or Fly: Tyler, TX to San Antonio, 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 TYR–SAT. At 308 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 45m

Distance

308.7 mi

Total Cost

$103

CO2

125 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$68

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 55m

33m in the air

Air Distance

277 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

71 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Tyler, TX → TYR 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 33m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SAT → San Antonio, TX 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

San Antonio, TX SAT — San Antonio International Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 50m 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

14h 34m

12h 54m on rail

Total Cost

$57

CO2

18 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Tyler, TX → Mineola 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 774m

Arrival 10m

San Antonio Amtrak Station → San Antonio, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $57) $57

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

Stations

From Mineola 0 mi, ~30m drive

To San Antonio Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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 6 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	5h 45m	2h 55m	14h 34m
Total cost (1 person)	$103	$186	$57
Carbon footprint	125 kg CO₂	71 kg CO₂	18 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

308.7 mi 5h 44m

via I 35, TX 31, I 35; US 290

Alternative (+9 min)

314.2 mi 5h 54m

via US 79, TX 130 Toll, US 79; US 190

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