Drive or Fly: Arlington, TX to Lake Kiowa, 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–DFW. At 87 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 57m

Distance

87.6 mi

Total Cost

$54

CO2

35 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$19

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 36m

7m in the air

Air Distance

58 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

15 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, TX → DFW 18m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 7m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DFW → Lake Kiowa, TX 71m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

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

Lake Kiowa, TX DFW — Dallas Fort Worth International Airport 47 mi, ~71m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DFW and DFW. 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

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

2h 14m

1h 3m on rail

Total Cost

$12

CO2

4 kg

Route

Heartland Flyer

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, TX → Fort Worth 19m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 63m

Arrival 10m

Gainesville Amtrak Station → Lake Kiowa, TX 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

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

Stations

From Fort Worth 13 mi, ~19m drive

To Gainesville Amtrak Station 8 mi, ~12m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/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 1 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	1h 57m	3h 36m	2h 14m
Total cost (1 person)	$54	$122	$12
Carbon footprint	35 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂	4 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

87.6 mi 1h 56m

via I 35; US 77, I 35E, PGBT

Alternative (+1 min)

88.5 mi 1h 58m

via I 35; US 77, I 35W, I 35W TEXpress

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