Drive or Fly: Arlington, TX to Fort Stockton, 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–MAF. At 431 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 34m

Distance

431.7 mi

Total Cost

$130

CO2

174 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$95

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

5h 5m

43m in the air

Air Distance

362 mi

Total Cost

$189

CO2

92 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, TX → DFW 18m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 43m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MAF → Fort Stockton, TX 124m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $134) $134

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Fort Stockton, TX MAF — Midland International Air and Space Port 83 mi, ~124m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 29m 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 55m

17h 27m on rail

Total Cost

$70

CO2

20 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, TX → Fort Worth 19m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1047m

Arrival 10m

Sanderson Amtrak → Fort Stockton, TX 89m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $70) $70

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

Stations

From Fort Worth 13 mi, ~19m drive

To Sanderson Amtrak 59 mi, ~89m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~5/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 5 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	7h 34m	5h 5m	19h 55m
Total cost (1 person)	$130	$189	$70
Carbon footprint	174 kg CO₂	92 kg CO₂	20 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 17, 2026.

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