Drive or Fly: Center, TX to Laredo, 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 SHV–LRD. At 491 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

9h 12m

Distance

491.1 mi

Total Cost

$143

CO2

198 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$108

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 16m

52m in the air

Air Distance

436 mi

Total Cost

$192

CO2

111 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Center, TX → SHV 74m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 52m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LRD → Laredo, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $137) $137

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Center, TX SHV — Shreveport Regional Airport 50 mi, ~74m drive

Laredo, TX LRD — Laredo International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SHV and LRD. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 4h 56m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	9h 12m	4h 16m
Total cost (1 person)	$143	$192
Carbon footprint	198 kg CO₂	111 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

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

491.1 mi 9h 12m

via TX 21, I 35, TX 7

Alternative (+16 min)

524.4 mi 9h 28m

via I 10; US 90, I 35, US 59

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