Drive or Fly: Brownsboro, TX to Rhode Island, 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 201 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 51m

Distance

201 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

4h 33m

19m in the air

Air Distance

162 mi

Total Cost

$181

CO2

41 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Brownsboro, TX → AUS 43m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 19m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ACT → Rhode Island, TX 91m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Rhode Island, TX ACT — Waco Regional Airport 60 mi, ~91m 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

11h 56m

8h 56m on rail

Total Cost

$48

CO2

14 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Brownsboro, TX → San Marcos Amtrak 31m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 536m

Arrival 10m

Mineola → Rhode Island, TX 109m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $48) $48

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

Stations

From San Marcos Amtrak 21 mi, ~31m drive

To Mineola 73 mi, ~109m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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 6 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	3h 51m	4h 33m	11h 56m
Total cost (1 person)	$79	$181	$48
Carbon footprint	81 kg CO₂	41 kg CO₂	14 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

201 mi 3h 51m

via TX 21, US 79, I 45

Alternative (+2 min)

216.5 mi 3h 54m

via I 35, TX 130 Toll, TX 31

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