Drive or Fly: El Paso, TX to Pasadena, 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–HOU. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

12h 37m

Distance

759.2 mi

Total Cost

$348

CO2

307 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$168

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

3h 43m

1h 22m in the air

Air Distance

685 mi

Total Cost

$290

CO2

175 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

El Paso, TX → ELP 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 82m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

HOU → Pasadena, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $235) $235

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Pasadena, TX HOU — William P. Hobby Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 8h 54m 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

19h 31m

18h 25m on rail

Total Cost

$135

CO2

39 kg

Route

Sunset Limited

Door-to-Door Timeline

El Paso, TX → El Paso 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1105m

Arrival 10m

Houston → Pasadena, TX 16m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

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

Stations

From El Paso 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Houston 11 mi, ~16m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

15h 30m

14h 45m on road

Total Cost

$75

CO2

39 kg

Route

Greyhound US1001

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 885m

Arrival 10m

Houston Bus Station (Greyhound) (HOU6) → Pasadena, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $75) $75

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 HOU6 — Houston Bus Station (Greyhound) 6 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	12h 37m	3h 43m	19h 31m	15h 30m
Total cost (1 person)	$348	$290	$135	$75
Carbon footprint	307 kg CO₂	175 kg CO₂	39 kg CO₂	39 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, 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 15, 2026.

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