Drive or Fly: Fabens, TX to San Antonio, 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–SAT. At 523 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

8h 24m

Distance

523.5 mi

Total Cost

$151

CO2

211 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$116

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 46m

57m in the air

Air Distance

478 mi

Total Cost

$194

CO2

122 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fabens, TX → ELP 37m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 57m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SAT → San Antonio, TX 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $139) $139

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Fabens, TX ELP — El Paso International Airport 25 mi, ~37m drive

San Antonio, TX SAT — San Antonio International Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 4h 38m 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

13h 45m

12h 15m on rail

Total Cost

$101

CO2

29 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fabens, TX → El Paso 40m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 735m

Arrival 10m

San Antonio Amtrak Station → San Antonio, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $101) $101

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

Stations

From El Paso 27 mi, ~40m drive

To San Antonio Amtrak Station 1 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	8h 24m	3h 46m	13h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$151	$194	$101
Carbon footprint	211 kg CO₂	122 kg CO₂	29 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 13, 2026.

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