Drive or Fly: Arlington, TX to Barrett, 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–IAH. At 269 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

4h 52m

Distance

269.7 mi

Total Cost

$95

CO2

109 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

3h 13m

28m in the air

Air Distance

231 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

59 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, TX → DFW 18m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 28m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
IAH → Barrett, TX 27m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Arlington, TX DFW — Dallas Fort Worth International Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive
Barrett, TX IAH — George Bush Intercontinental Airport 18 mi, ~27m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DFW and IAH. 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

At a Glance

Drive Fly
Door-to-door time 4h 52m 3h 13m
Total cost (1 person) $95 $184
Carbon footprint 109 kg CO2 59 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
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 12, 2026.

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