Drive or Fly: Fort Worth, TX to Ames, 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 FTW–IAH. At 285 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 7m

Distance

285 mi

Total Cost

$98

CO2

115 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$63

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

3h 33m

29m in the air

Air Distance

239 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

61 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fort Worth, TX → FTW 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 29m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

IAH → Ames, TX 54m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Fort Worth, TX FTW — Fort Worth Meacham International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

Ames, TX IAH — George Bush Intercontinental Airport 36 mi, ~54m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between FTW and IAH. 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	5h 7m	3h 33m
Total cost (1 person)	$98	$185
Carbon footprint	115 kg CO₂	61 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

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 15, 2026.

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