Drive or Fly: El Paso, TX to Ames, TX?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No direct flights for ELP–IAH. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

13h 12m

Distance

790.1 mi

Total Cost

$354

CO2

319 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$174

Hotel (1 room, 1 night) $110

Meals (1 pax, 2 days) $70

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

− Requires 2 days of driving

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 30m

1h 25m in the air

Air Distance

706 mi

Total Cost

$291

CO2

180 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

El Paso, TX → ELP 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 85m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

IAH → Ames, TX 54m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $236) $236

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Ames, TX IAH — George Bush Intercontinental Airport 36 mi, ~54m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 8h 42m 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

22h 53m

21h 8m on rail

Total Cost

$148

CO2

43 kg

Route

Sunset Limited

Door-to-Door Timeline

El Paso, TX → El Paso 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1268m

Arrival 10m

Beaumont Amtrak → Ames, TX 55m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $148) $148

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

Stations

From El Paso 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Beaumont Amtrak 37 mi, ~55m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/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 2 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	13h 12m	4h 30m	22h 53m
Total cost (1 person)	$354	$291	$148
Carbon footprint	319 kg CO₂	180 kg CO₂	43 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 El Paso, TX to Ames, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.