Drive or Fly: El Paso, TX to Ballinger, 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 ELP–SJT. At 443 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

7h 31m

Distance

443 mi

Total Cost

$133

CO2

179 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$98

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

46m in the air

Air Distance

384 mi

Total Cost

$190

CO2

98 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

El Paso, TX → ELP 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 46m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SJT → Ballinger, TX 63m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Ballinger, TX SJT — San Angelo Regional Mathis Field 42 mi, ~63m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 31m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	7h 31m	4h
Total cost (1 person)	$133	$190
Carbon footprint	179 kg CO₂	98 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

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 El Paso, TX to Ballinger, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.