Drive or Fly: Atlanta, GA to Dallas, TX?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No direct flights for ATL–DAL. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

14h 10m

Distance

783 mi

Total Cost

$354

CO2

316 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$174

Hotel (1 room, 1 night) $110

Meals (1 pax, 2 days) $70

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

− Requires 2 days of driving

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 48m

1h 26m in the air

Air Distance

720 mi

Total Cost

$293

CO2

184 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Atlanta, GA → ATL 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 86m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DAL → Dallas, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $238) $238

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Atlanta, GA ATL — Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

Dallas, TX DAL — Dallas Love Field 5 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ATL and DAL. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 10h 22m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	14h 10m	3h 48m
Total cost (1 person)	$354	$293
Carbon footprint	316 kg CO₂	184 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 13, 2026.

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