Drive or Fly: Alpine, TX to Rhode Island, 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–ACT. At 534 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

9h 50m

Distance

534 mi

Total Cost

$154

CO2

216 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$119

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

7h 54m

54m in the air

Air Distance

451 mi

Total Cost

$193

CO2

115 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alpine, TX → MAF 209m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 54m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ACT → Rhode Island, TX 91m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $138) $138

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Rhode Island, TX ACT — Waco Regional Airport 60 mi, ~91m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ 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

23h 2m

20h 23m on rail

Total Cost

$101

CO2

29 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alpine, TX → Alpine Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1223m

Arrival 10m

Mineola → Rhode Island, TX 109m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $101) $101

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

Stations

From Alpine Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

To Mineola 73 mi, ~109m 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	9h 50m	7h 54m	23h 2m
Total cost (1 person)	$154	$193	$101
Carbon footprint	216 kg CO₂	115 kg CO₂	29 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 Rhode Island, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.