Drive or Fly: Garland, TX to Austin, 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 TXK–AUS. At 345 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

6h 12m

Distance

345.4 mi

Total Cost

$112

CO2

140 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$77

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 44m

35m in the air

Air Distance

288 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

73 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Garland, TX → TXK 59m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 35m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AUS → Austin, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Garland, TX TXK — Texarkana Regional Airport (Webb Field) 39 mi, ~59m drive

Austin, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between TXK and AUS. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 28m 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

14h 32m

12h 47m on rail

Total Cost

$62

CO2

18 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Garland, TX → Texarkana Amtrak Station 55m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 767m

Arrival 10m

Austin → Austin, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $62) $62

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

Stations

From Texarkana Amtrak Station 37 mi, ~55m drive

To Austin 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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 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	6h 12m	3h 44m	14h 32m
Total cost (1 person)	$112	$187	$62
Carbon footprint	140 kg CO₂	73 kg CO₂	18 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 12, 2026.

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