Drive or Fly: Del Rio, TX to Plano, 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 SJT–DAL. At 447 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

8h 6m

Distance

447.5 mi

Total Cost

$134

CO2

181 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$99

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

6h 34m

42m in the air

Air Distance

354 mi

Total Cost

$189

CO2

90 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Del Rio, TX → SJT 210m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 42m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DAL → Plano, TX 22m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $134) $134

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Del Rio, TX SJT — San Angelo Regional Mathis Field 140 mi, ~210m drive

Plano, TX DAL — Dallas Love Field 15 mi, ~22m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SJT and DAL. 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

15h 28m

14h 11m on rail

Total Cost

$68

CO2

20 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Del Rio, TX → Del Rio Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 851m

Arrival 10m

Dallas → Plano, TX 27m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $68) $68

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

Stations

From Del Rio Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

To Dallas 18 mi, ~27m 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	8h 6m	6h 34m	15h 28m
Total cost (1 person)	$134	$189	$68
Carbon footprint	181 kg CO₂	90 kg CO₂	20 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 15, 2026.

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