Drive or Fly: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX to Rhode Island, 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 SAT–ACT. At 262 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 2m

Distance

262.9 mi

Total Cost

$93

CO2

106 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$58

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

4h 22m

24m in the air

Air Distance

202 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

52 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fair Oaks Ranch, TX → SAT 27m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 24m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ACT → Rhode Island, TX 91m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Fair Oaks Ranch, TX SAT — San Antonio International Airport 18 mi, ~27m drive

Rhode Island, TX ACT — Waco Regional Airport 60 mi, ~91m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SAT and ACT. 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

13h 36m

10h 30m on rail

Total Cost

$57

CO2

17 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fair Oaks Ranch, TX → San Antonio Amtrak Station 37m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 630m

Arrival 10m

Mineola → Rhode Island, TX 109m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $57) $57

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

Stations

From San Antonio Amtrak Station 25 mi, ~37m drive

To Mineola 73 mi, ~109m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 6 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	5h 2m	4h 22m	13h 36m
Total cost (1 person)	$93	$183	$57
Carbon footprint	106 kg CO₂	52 kg CO₂	17 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

262.9 mi 5h 1m

via I 35, TX 31, US 290

Shortest (+8 min)

258.9 mi 5h 10m

via US 79, US 290, I 45

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Fair Oaks Ranch, TX to Rhode Island, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.