Drive or Fly: Corpus Christi, TX to San Carlos, 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 CRP–MFE. At 148 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 49m

Distance

148.5 mi

Total Cost

$68

CO2

60 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$33

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

2h 43m

13m in the air

Air Distance

112 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

29 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Corpus Christi, TX → CRP 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 13m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MFE → San Carlos, TX 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Corpus Christi, TX CRP — Corpus Christi International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

San Carlos, TX MFE — McAllen Miller International Airport 13 mi, ~20m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CRP and MFE. 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

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 38m

2h 45m on road

Total Cost

$13

CO2

7 kg

Route

FlixBus US1120

Door-to-Door Timeline

Corpus Christi, TX → Corpus Christi Bus Station (CCT6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 165m

Arrival 10m

Mcallen Bus Station (MLN6) → San Carlos, TX 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $13) $13

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

Stations

From CCT6 — Corpus Christi Bus Station 1 mi, ~10m drive

To MLN6 — Mcallen Bus Station 12 mi, ~18m 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	2h 49m	2h 43m	3h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$68	$124	$13
Carbon footprint	60 kg CO₂	29 kg CO₂	7 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

148.5 mi 2h 48m

via I 69C; US 281, TX 141, US 77

Shortest (+3 min)

143.3 mi 2h 52m

via US 77, I 69E; US 77, TX 44

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Corpus Christi, TX to San Carlos, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.