Drive or Fly: Waco, TX to Brownsville, 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 ACT–BRO. At 431 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 58m

Distance

431.6 mi

Total Cost

$130

CO2

174 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$95

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 7m

47m in the air

Air Distance

391 mi

Total Cost

$191

CO2

100 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Waco, TX → ACT 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 47m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BRO → Brownsville, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $136) $136

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Waco, TX ACT — Waco Regional Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

Brownsville, TX BRO — Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ACT and BRO. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 4h 51m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

13h 55m

12h 30m on road

Total Cost

$43

CO2

25 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Waco, TX → Waco Bus Stop (WAC6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 750m

Arrival 10m

Brownsville Bus Station (BRN6) → Brownsville, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $43) $43

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

Stations

From WAC6 — Waco Bus Stop 0 mi, ~30m drive

To BRN6 — Brownsville Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	7h 58m	3h 7m	13h 55m
Total cost (1 person)	$130	$191	$43
Carbon footprint	174 kg CO₂	100 kg CO₂	25 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 21, 2026.

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