Drive or Fly: Fort Davis, 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 CNM–ACT. At 557 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

10h 14m

Distance

557.1 mi

Total Cost

$303

CO2

225 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$123

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

7h 30m

55m in the air

Air Distance

461 mi

Total Cost

$193

CO2

117 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fort Davis, TX → CNM 184m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 55m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ACT → Rhode Island, TX 91m

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

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

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 44m 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

23h 24m

20h 23m on rail

Total Cost

$101

CO2

29 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fort Davis, TX → Alpine Amtrak Station 32m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1223m

Arrival 10m

Mineola → Rhode Island, TX 109m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $101) $101

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

Stations

From Alpine Amtrak Station 21 mi, ~32m drive

To Mineola 73 mi, ~109m 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	10h 14m	7h 30m	23h 24m
Total cost (1 person)	$303	$193	$101
Carbon footprint	225 kg CO₂	117 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

557.1 mi 10h 13m

via TX 17, US 190, US 84

Alternative (+2 min)

576.9 mi 10h 16m

via I 20, US 287, I 45; US 287

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