Drive or Fly: Houston, TX to Fort Stockton, 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 HOU–MAF. At 503 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

8h 27m

Distance

503.5 mi

Total Cost

$114

CO2

203 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$79

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

5h 14m

55m in the air

Air Distance

455 mi

Total Cost

$193

CO2

116 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Houston, TX → HOU 15m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 55m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MAF → Fort Stockton, TX 124m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $138) $138

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Houston, TX HOU — William P. Hobby Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

Fort Stockton, TX MAF — Midland International Air and Space Port 83 mi, ~124m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between HOU and MAF. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 13m 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

15h 51m

13h 32m on rail

Total Cost

$84

CO2

24 kg

Route

Sunset Limited

Door-to-Door Timeline

Houston, TX → Houston 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 812m

Arrival 10m

Sanderson Amtrak → Fort Stockton, TX 89m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $84) $84

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

Stations

From Houston 0 mi, ~10m drive

To Sanderson Amtrak 59 mi, ~89m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/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 2 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	8h 27m	5h 14m	15h 51m
Total cost (1 person)	$114	$193	$84
Carbon footprint	203 kg CO₂	116 kg CO₂	24 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

503.5 mi 8h 27m

via I 10; US 87, I 10; US 90, Loop 1604

Alternative (+75 min)

544.9 mi 9h 43m

via I 10, US 190, TX 71

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