Drive or Fly: Fort Davis, TX to Plano, 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 CNM–DAL. At 523 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

9h 19m

Distance

523.8 mi

Total Cost

$151

CO2

212 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

6h 21m

55m in the air

Air Distance

455 mi

Total Cost

$193

CO2

116 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fort Davis, TX → CNM 184m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 55m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DAL → Plano, TX 22m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $138) $138

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Fort Davis, TX CNM — Cavern City Air Terminal 123 mi, ~184m drive

Plano, TX DAL — Dallas Love Field 15 mi, ~22m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CNM and DAL. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 58m 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

20h 7m

18h 28m on rail

Total Cost

$87

CO2

25 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fort Davis, TX → Alpine Amtrak Station 32m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1108m

Arrival 10m

Dallas → Plano, TX 27m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $87) $87

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

Stations

From Alpine Amtrak Station 21 mi, ~32m drive

To Dallas 18 mi, ~27m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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 3 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 19m	6h 21m	20h 7m
Total cost (1 person)	$151	$193	$87
Carbon footprint	212 kg CO₂	116 kg CO₂	25 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 Fort Davis, TX to Plano, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.