Drive or Fly: Bryan, TX to Houston, 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–HOU. At 287 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 12m

Distance

287.1 mi

Total Cost

$98

CO2

116 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$63

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 15m

31m in the air

Air Distance

260 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

66 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bryan, TX → FTW 29m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 31m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

HOU → Houston, TX 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Houston, TX HOU — William P. Hobby Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between FTW and HOU. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 45m

6h 20m on road

Total Cost

$29

CO2

17 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bryan, TX → Denton (2DN) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 380m

Arrival 10m

Downtown Houston (Gray St.) (2HO) → Houston, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $29) $29

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

Stations

From 2DN — Denton 0 mi, ~30m drive

To 2HO — Downtown Houston (Gray St.) 0 mi, ~30m 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	Bus
Door-to-door time	5h 12m	3h 15m	7h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$98	$185	$29
Carbon footprint	116 kg CO₂	66 kg CO₂	17 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: 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

287.1 mi 5h 12m

via I 45, TX 114, TX 114 TEXpress

Alternative (+11 min)

293.2 mi 5h 23m

via I 35W, TX 6, US 190; TX 6

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