Drive or Fly: Garland, TX to Live Oak, 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–SAT. At 407 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 19m

Distance

407.8 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

165 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$90

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 53m

42m in the air

Air Distance

348 mi

Total Cost

$189

CO2

89 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Garland, TX → TXK 59m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 42m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SAT → Live Oak, TX 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $134) $134

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Live Oak, TX SAT — San Antonio International Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 26m 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

18h 21m

16h 26m on rail

Total Cost

$76

CO2

22 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Garland, TX → Texarkana Amtrak Station 55m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 986m

Arrival 10m

San Antonio Amtrak Station → Live Oak, TX 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $76) $76

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

Stations

From Texarkana Amtrak Station 37 mi, ~55m drive

To San Antonio Amtrak Station 13 mi, ~20m 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	7h 19m	3h 53m	18h 21m
Total cost (1 person)	$125	$189	$76
Carbon footprint	165 kg CO₂	89 kg CO₂	22 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

407.8 mi 7h 18m

via I 30, I 35, I 35E

Shortest (+26 min)

397.6 mi 7h 45m

via US 79, TX 155, US 79; US 190

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