Drive or Fly: El Paso, TX to Spring Valley, 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

12h 9m

Distance

736.9 mi

Total Cost

$343

CO2

298 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$163

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 56m

1h 20m in the air

Air Distance

666 mi

Total Cost

$288

CO2

170 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

El Paso, TX → ELP 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 80m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

IAH → Spring Valley, TX 25m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $233) $233

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Spring Valley, TX IAH — George Bush Intercontinental Airport 17 mi, ~25m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 8h 13m 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 27m

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 → Spring Valley, TX 12m

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 8 mi, ~12m 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	12h 9m	3h 56m	19h 27m
Total cost (1 person)	$343	$288	$135
Carbon footprint	298 kg CO₂	170 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 — 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

736.9 mi 12h 8m

via I 10, I 10; US 180, I 10; TX 130

Alternative (+77 min)

776.8 mi 13h 26m

via I 10, I 10; US 180, TX 71

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