Drive or Fly: Austin, TX to Ballinger, 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 AUS–SJT. At 199 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 44m

Distance

199.4 mi

Total Cost

$79

CO2

81 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$44

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 33m

20m in the air

Air Distance

165 mi

Total Cost

$127

CO2

42 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Austin, TX → AUS 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 20m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SJT → Ballinger, TX 63m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Airports

Austin, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

Ballinger, TX SJT — San Angelo Regional Mathis Field 42 mi, ~63m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between AUS and SJT. 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	3h 44m	3h 33m
Total cost (1 person)	$79	$127
Carbon footprint	81 kg CO₂	42 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 Austin, TX to Ballinger, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.