Drive or Fly: Buda, TX to Garland, 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–TXK. At 373 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

5h 29m

Distance

373.3 mi

Total Cost

$118

CO2

151 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$83

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 55m

36m in the air

Air Distance

301 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

77 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buda, TX → AUS 20m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 36m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TXK → Garland, TX 59m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Buda, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 13 mi, ~20m drive

Garland, TX TXK — Texarkana Regional Airport (Webb Field) 39 mi, ~59m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between AUS and TXK. 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

12h 50m

11h 10m on rail

Total Cost

$62

CO2

22 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buda, TX → Austin 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 670m

Arrival 10m

Texarkana Amtrak Station → Garland, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $62) $62

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

Stations

From Austin 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Texarkana Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ 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	5h 29m	3h 55m	12h 50m
Total cost (1 person)	$118	$187	$62
Carbon footprint	151 kg CO₂	77 kg CO₂	22 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 12, 2026.

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