Drive or Fly: El Paso, TX to San Marcos, 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–AUS. At 572 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

9h 36m

Distance

572.3 mi

Total Cost

$161

CO2

231 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$126

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

3h 55m

1h 3m in the air

Air Distance

523 mi

Total Cost

$196

CO2

133 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

El Paso, TX → ELP 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 63m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AUS → San Marcos, TX 41m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $141) $141

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

San Marcos, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 27 mi, ~41m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 5h 41m 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

16h 37m

15h 37m on rail

Total Cost

$105

CO2

30 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

El Paso, TX → El Paso 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 937m

Arrival 10m

San Marcos Amtrak → San Marcos, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $105) $105

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

Stations

From El Paso 1 mi, ~10m drive

To San Marcos Amtrak 0 mi, ~10m 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 36m	3h 55m	16h 37m
Total cost (1 person)	$161	$196	$105
Carbon footprint	231 kg CO₂	133 kg CO₂	30 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

572.3 mi 9h 35m

via I 10, I 10; US 180, RM 473

Alternative (+82 min)

627.8 mi 10h 57m

via I 10, I 10; US 180, TX 29

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