Drive or Fly: Arlington, TX to McCamey, 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 386 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

6h 44m

Distance

386.3 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

156 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$86

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

4h 20m

38m in the air

Air Distance

320 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

82 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, TX → DFW 18m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 38m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MAF → McCamey, TX 84m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

McCamey, TX MAF — Midland International Air and Space Port 56 mi, ~84m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 24m 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

20h 10m

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 → McCamey, TX 104m

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 70 mi, ~104m 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	6h 44m	4h 20m	20h 10m
Total cost (1 person)	$121	$188	$70
Carbon footprint	156 kg CO₂	82 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 12, 2026.

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