Drive or Fly: Carthage, TX to San Antonio, 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 GGG–SAT. At 350 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

6h 39m

Distance

350.4 mi

Total Cost

$113

CO2

142 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$78

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 29m

37m in the air

Air Distance

311 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

79 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Carthage, TX → GGG 40m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 37m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SAT → San Antonio, TX 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Carthage, TX GGG — East Texas Regional Airport 27 mi, ~40m drive

San Antonio, TX SAT — San Antonio International Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between GGG and SAT. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 10m compared to driving

+ 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

15h 55m

14h 24m on rail

Total Cost

$65

CO2

19 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Carthage, TX → Marshall Amtrak Station 41m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 864m

Arrival 10m

San Antonio Amtrak Station → San Antonio, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $65) $65

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

Stations

From Marshall Amtrak Station 27 mi, ~41m drive

To San Antonio Amtrak Station 1 mi, ~10m 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	6h 39m	3h 29m	15h 55m
Total cost (1 person)	$113	$187	$65
Carbon footprint	142 kg CO₂	79 kg CO₂	19 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 Carthage, TX to San Antonio, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.