Drive or Fly: Bryan, TX to Austin, 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 FTW–AUS. At 219 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 53m

Distance

219.3 mi

Total Cost

$83

CO2

89 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$48

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 3m

24m in the air

Air Distance

197 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

50 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bryan, TX → FTW 29m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 24m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AUS → Austin, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Bryan, TX FTW — Fort Worth Meacham International Airport 20 mi, ~29m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between FTW and AUS. 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

6h 6m

4h 39m on rail

Total Cost

$35

CO2

10 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bryan, TX → Fort Worth 37m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 279m

Arrival 10m

Austin → Austin, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $35) $35

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

Stations

From Fort Worth 25 mi, ~37m drive

To Austin 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~10/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 10 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

6h 21m

5h 20m on road

Total Cost

$23

CO2

12 kg

Route

FlixBus 2230

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bryan, TX → Denton (2DN) 26m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 320m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $23) $23

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

Stations

From 2DN — Denton 17 mi, ~26m drive

To 2AS — Downtown Austin (9th St) 1 mi, ~10m 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	3h 53m	3h 3m	6h 6m	6h 21m
Total cost (1 person)	$83	$183	$35	$23
Carbon footprint	89 kg CO₂	50 kg CO₂	10 kg CO₂	12 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

219.3 mi 3h 53m

via I 35, I 35W, US 81; US 287

Alternative (+45 min)

226 mi 4h 39m

via I 35, TX 174, TX 317

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