Drive or Fly: Alpine, TX to Garland, 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 MAF–TXK. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

11h 50m

Distance

665.7 mi

Total Cost

$328

CO2

269 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$148

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

7h 36m

1h 8m in the air

Air Distance

570 mi

Total Cost

$198

CO2

145 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alpine, TX → MAF 209m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 68m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TXK → Garland, TX 59m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $143) $143

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Alpine, TX MAF — Midland International Air and Space Port 139 mi, ~209m drive

Garland, TX TXK — Texarkana Regional Airport (Webb Field) 39 mi, ~59m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MAF and TXK. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 4h 14m 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

25h 26m

23h 41m on rail

Total Cost

$120

CO2

35 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alpine, TX → Alpine Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1421m

Arrival 10m

Texarkana Amtrak Station → Garland, TX 55m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $120) $120

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

Stations

From Alpine Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

To Texarkana Amtrak Station 37 mi, ~55m 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	11h 50m	7h 36m	25h 26m
Total cost (1 person)	$328	$198	$120
Carbon footprint	269 kg CO₂	145 kg CO₂	35 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 13, 2026.

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