Drive or Fly: Brownsboro, TX to Arlington, 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–DFW. At 236 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 13m

Distance

236.2 mi

Total Cost

$87

CO2

95 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$52

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 26m

25m in the air

Air Distance

206 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

53 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Brownsboro, TX → AUS 43m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 25m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DFW → Arlington, TX 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Brownsboro, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 29 mi, ~43m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between AUS 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

7h 5m

5h 35m on rail

Total Cost

$40

CO2

12 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Brownsboro, TX → San Marcos Amtrak 31m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 335m

Arrival 10m

Fort Worth → Arlington, TX 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $40) $40

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

Stations

From San Marcos Amtrak 21 mi, ~31m drive

To Fort Worth 13 mi, ~19m 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

6h 45m

5h 30m on road

Total Cost

$24

CO2

13 kg

Route

FlixBus 2230

Door-to-Door Timeline

Brownsboro, TX → San Marcos (CARTS) (SMT6) 31m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 330m

Arrival 10m

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (2DF) → Arlington, TX 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $24) $24

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

Stations

From SMT6 — San Marcos (CARTS) 21 mi, ~31m drive

To 2DF — Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport 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	4h 13m	3h 26m	7h 5m	6h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$87	$183	$40	$24
Carbon footprint	95 kg CO₂	53 kg CO₂	12 kg CO₂	13 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

236.2 mi 4h 12m

via I 35, TX 130 Toll, I 35W

Alternative (+46 min)

246 mi 4h 59m

via TX 130 Toll, TX 317, TX 174

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