Drive or Fly: Hico, TX to El Paso, 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 ACT–ELP. At 580 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

9h 52m

Distance

580.8 mi

Total Cost

$163

CO2

235 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$128

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

4h 32m

1h in the air

Air Distance

496 mi

Total Cost

$195

CO2

127 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Hico, TX → ACT 81m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 60m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ELP → El Paso, TX 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $140) $140

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Hico, TX ACT — Waco Regional Airport 54 mi, ~81m drive

El Paso, TX ELP — El Paso International Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 5h 20m 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

24h 40m

22h 41m on rail

Total Cost

$107

CO2

31 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Hico, TX → Cleburne Amtrak Station 69m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1361m

Arrival 10m

El Paso → El Paso, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $107) $107

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

Stations

From Cleburne Amtrak Station 46 mi, ~69m drive

To El Paso 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~5/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 5 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 52m	4h 32m	24h 40m
Total cost (1 person)	$163	$195	$107
Carbon footprint	235 kg CO₂	127 kg CO₂	31 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

580.8 mi 9h 52m

via I 20; TX 108, I 10, I 20; TX 349

Shortest (+8 min)

570 mi 10h 0m

via I 10, TX 158, I 20; TX 349

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