Drive or Fly: Aldine, 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 IAH–ELP. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

12h 30m

Distance

752 mi

Total Cost

$346

CO2

304 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$166

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 41m

1h 20m in the air

Air Distance

671 mi

Total Cost

$289

CO2

171 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Aldine, TX → IAH 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 80m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ELP → El Paso, TX 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $234) $234

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Aldine, TX IAH — George Bush Intercontinental 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 IAH and ELP. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 8h 49m 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

20h 37m

19h 30m on rail

Total Cost

$135

CO2

39 kg

Route

Sunset Limited

Door-to-Door Timeline

Aldine, TX → Houston 17m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1170m

Arrival 10m

El Paso → El Paso, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

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

Stations

From Houston 11 mi, ~17m drive

To El Paso 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/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 2 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 30m	3h 41m	20h 37m
Total cost (1 person)	$346	$289	$135
Carbon footprint	304 kg CO₂	171 kg CO₂	39 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

752 mi 12h 29m

via I 10; US 87, I 10; US 90, Loop 1604

Alternative (+91 min)

793.3 mi 14h 0m

via I 10, TX 158, I 20; TX 349

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