Drive or Fly: Commerce, TX to El Paso, TX?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No direct flights for DAL–ELP. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

11h 54m

Distance

701.4 mi

Total Cost

$335

CO2

283 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$155

Hotel (1 room, 1 night) $110

Meals (1 pax, 2 days) $70

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

− Requires 2 days of driving

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 58m

1h 15m in the air

Air Distance

625 mi

Total Cost

$285

CO2

159 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Commerce, TX → DAL 92m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 75m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ELP → El Paso, TX 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $230) $230

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Commerce, TX DAL — Dallas Love Field 62 mi, ~92m drive

El Paso, TX ELP — El Paso International Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DAL and ELP. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 6h 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

30h 13m

28h 33m on rail

Total Cost

$129

CO2

41 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Commerce, TX → Mineola 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1713m

Arrival 10m

El Paso → El Paso, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

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

Stations

From Mineola 0 mi, ~30m drive

To El Paso 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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 3 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	11h 54m	4h 58m	30h 13m
Total cost (1 person)	$335	$285	$129
Carbon footprint	283 kg CO₂	159 kg CO₂	41 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

701.4 mi 11h 53m

via I 20, I 10, I 30; US 67

Alternative (+97 min)

727 mi 13h 31m

via US 62; US 180, US 82, US 82; TX 114

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