Drive or Fly: Dilley, TX to Rhode Island, 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 SAT–ACT. At 328 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 57m

Distance

328.5 mi

Total Cost

$108

CO2

133 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$73

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

5h 55m

34m in the air

Air Distance

279 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

71 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Dilley, TX → SAT 110m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 34m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ACT → Rhode Island, TX 91m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Dilley, TX SAT — San Antonio International Airport 73 mi, ~110m drive

Rhode Island, TX ACT — Waco Regional Airport 60 mi, ~91m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SAT and ACT. 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

14h 39m

10h 30m on rail

Total Cost

$57

CO2

17 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Dilley, TX → San Antonio Amtrak Station 100m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 630m

Arrival 10m

Mineola → Rhode Island, TX 109m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $57) $57

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

Stations

From San Antonio Amtrak Station 67 mi, ~100m drive

To Mineola 73 mi, ~109m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 6 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	5h 57m	5h 55m	14h 39m
Total cost (1 person)	$108	$186	$57
Carbon footprint	133 kg CO₂	71 kg CO₂	17 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

328.5 mi 5h 57m

via I 35, I 35; US 290, TX 31

Alternative (+4 min)

333.9 mi 6h 1m

via US 79, TX 130 Toll, I 35

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