Drive or Fly: Abilene, 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 scheduled commercial flights found for ABI–ELP. At 453 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 33m

Distance

453.4 mi

Total Cost

$135

CO2

183 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$100

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 9m

48m in the air

Air Distance

398 mi

Total Cost

$191

CO2

102 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Abilene, TX → ABI 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 48m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ELP → El Paso, TX 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $136) $136

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Abilene, TX ABI — Abilene Regional Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 4h 24m 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

9h 45m

8h 20m on road

Total Cost

$44

CO2

26 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Abilene, TX → Abilene (7-Eleven) (ABI6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 500m

Arrival 10m

El Paso Bus Station (W San Antonio St) (ELP6) → El Paso, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $44) $44

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

Stations

From ABI6 — Abilene (7-Eleven) 0 mi, ~30m drive

To ELP6 — El Paso Bus Station (W San Antonio St) 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~21/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	7h 33m	3h 9m	9h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$135	$191	$44
Carbon footprint	183 kg CO₂	102 kg CO₂	26 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

453.4 mi 7h 33m

via I 10, US 84, I 20; TX 349

Alternative (+63 min)

492.5 mi 8h 36m

via US 67, I 10, US 277

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