Drive or Fly: El Paso, TX to Odessa, 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–MAF. At 284 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

4h 39m

Distance

284.3 mi

Total Cost

$98

CO2

115 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$63

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 58m

29m in the air

Air Distance

242 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

62 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

El Paso, TX → ELP 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 29m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MAF → Odessa, TX 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Odessa, TX MAF — Midland International Air and Space Port 12 mi, ~18m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ELP and MAF. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

6h 27m

5h 37m on road

Total Cost

$28

CO2

15 kg

Route

Greyhound US1000

Door-to-Door Timeline

El Paso, TX → El Paso Bus Station (W San Antonio St) (ELP6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 337m

Arrival 10m

Midland (Stripes) (ODE6) → Odessa, TX 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $28) $28

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

Stations

From ELP6 — El Paso Bus Station (W San Antonio St) 0 mi, ~10m drive

To ODE6 — Midland (Stripes) 10 mi, ~15m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~21/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

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 39m	2h 58m	6h 27m
Total cost (1 person)	$98	$185	$28
Carbon footprint	115 kg CO₂	62 kg CO₂	15 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 El Paso, TX to Odessa, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.