Drive or Fly: Denton, TX to Dallas, 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 DFW–DAL. At 38 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

46m

Distance

38.1 mi

Total Cost

$43

CO2

15 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$8

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 48m

4m in the air

Air Distance

35 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

9 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Denton, TX → DFW 34m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 4m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DAL → Dallas, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Denton, TX DFW — Dallas Fort Worth International Airport 23 mi, ~34m drive

Dallas, TX DAL — Dallas Love Field 5 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DFW 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

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 55m

1h 10m on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

FlixBus 2242

Door-to-Door Timeline

Denton, TX → Denton (2DN) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 70m

Arrival 10m

Downtown Dallas / Deep Ellum (2DA) → Dallas, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $4) $4

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

Stations

From 2DN — Denton 1 mi, ~10m drive

To 2DA — Downtown Dallas / Deep Ellum 1 mi, ~10m 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	46m	2h 48m	1h 55m
Total cost (1 person)	$43	$121	$4
Carbon footprint	15 kg CO₂	9 kg CO₂	2 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 12, 2026.

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