Drive or Fly: Arlington, TX to Alamo Heights, 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 DFW–SAT. At 271 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 58m

Distance

271.5 mi

Total Cost

$95

CO2

110 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$60

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

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

2h 57m

29m in the air

Air Distance

239 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

61 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, TX → DFW 18m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 29m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SAT → Alamo Heights, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Arlington, TX DFW — Dallas Fort Worth International Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

Alamo Heights, TX SAT — San Antonio International Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DFW and SAT. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 1m 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

9h 27m

8h 18m on rail

Total Cost

$48

CO2

14 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, TX → Fort Worth 19m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 498m

Arrival 10m

San Antonio Amtrak Station → Alamo Heights, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $48) $48

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

Stations

From Fort Worth 13 mi, ~19m drive

To San Antonio Amtrak Station 5 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~10/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 10 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 29m

6h 35m on road

Total Cost

$28

CO2

15 kg

Route

FlixBus 2230

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, TX → Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (2DF) 19m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 395m

Arrival 10m

San Antonio Pearl District (2SP) → Alamo Heights, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $28) $28

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

Stations

From 2DF — Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport 13 mi, ~19m drive

To 2SP — San Antonio Pearl District 3 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 58m	2h 57m	9h 27m	7h 29m
Total cost (1 person)	$95	$185	$48	$28
Carbon footprint	110 kg CO₂	61 kg CO₂	14 kg CO₂	15 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, 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

271.5 mi 4h 57m

via I 35, I 35W, I 35; US 290

Alternative (+32 min)

276 mi 5h 30m

via US 281, US 67, CTP

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