Drive or Fly: El Paso, TX to Hico, 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–ACT. At 580 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

9h 51m

Distance

580.8 mi

Total Cost

$163

CO2

235 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$128

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 32m

1h in the air

Air Distance

496 mi

Total Cost

$195

CO2

127 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

El Paso, TX → ELP 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 60m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ACT → Hico, TX 81m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $140) $140

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Hico, TX ACT — Waco Regional Airport 54 mi, ~81m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 5h 19m 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 13m

20h 14m on rail

Total Cost

$107

CO2

31 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

El Paso, TX → El Paso 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1214m

Arrival 10m

Cleburne Amtrak Station → Hico, TX 69m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $107) $107

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

Stations

From El Paso 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Cleburne Amtrak Station 46 mi, ~69m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 4 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	9h 51m	4h 32m	22h 13m
Total cost (1 person)	$163	$195	$107
Carbon footprint	235 kg CO₂	127 kg CO₂	31 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 16, 2026.

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