Drive or Fly: Alpine, TX to Irving, 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 MAF–DAL. At 509 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

8h 57m

Distance

509.8 mi

Total Cost

$148

CO2

206 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$113

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

6h 31m

52m in the air

Air Distance

430 mi

Total Cost

$192

CO2

110 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alpine, TX → MAF 209m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 52m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DAL → Irving, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $137) $137

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Irving, TX DAL — Dallas Love Field 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 26m 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

19h 31m

18h 28m on rail

Total Cost

$87

CO2

25 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alpine, TX → Alpine Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1108m

Arrival 10m

Dallas → Irving, TX 13m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $87) $87

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

Stations

From Alpine Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

To Dallas 9 mi, ~13m 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	8h 57m	6h 31m	19h 31m
Total cost (1 person)	$148	$192	$87
Carbon footprint	206 kg CO₂	110 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: 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 Irving, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.