Drive or Fly: Austin, TX to Riesel, 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–ACT. At 113 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 5m

Distance

113.9 mi

Total Cost

$60

CO2

46 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$25

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

2h 53m

12m in the air

Air Distance

97 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

25 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Austin, TX → AUS 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ACT → Riesel, TX 31m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

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

Riesel, TX ACT — Waco Regional Airport 20 mi, ~31m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between AUS and ACT. 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

3h 54m

2h 21m on rail

Total Cost

$17

CO2

5 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Austin, TX → Austin 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 141m

Arrival 10m

Mcgregor Amtrak → Riesel, TX 43m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $17) $17

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

Stations

From Austin 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Mcgregor Amtrak 28 mi, ~43m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~9/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 9 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

2h 49m

1h 55m on road

Total Cost

$11

CO2

6 kg

Route

FlixBus 2230

Door-to-Door Timeline

Austin, TX → Downtown Austin (9th St) (2AS) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 115m

Arrival 10m

Waco (2WS) → Riesel, TX 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $11) $11

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

Stations

From 2AS — Downtown Austin (9th St) 1 mi, ~10m drive

To 2WS — Waco 13 mi, ~19m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 5m	2h 53m	3h 54m	2h 49m
Total cost (1 person)	$60	$124	$17	$11
Carbon footprint	46 kg CO₂	25 kg CO₂	5 kg CO₂	6 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, FlixBus 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

113.9 mi 2h 4m

via I 35; US 290, TX 6, TX 6; Loop 340

Alternative (+6 min)

120.1 mi 2h 11m

via I 35, TX 45 Toll; TX 130 Toll, TX 6

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