Drive or Fly: Houston, TX to Providence, 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–DFW. At 279 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 5m

Distance

279.5 mi

Total Cost

$97

CO2

113 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$62

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 22m

31m in the air

Air Distance

258 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

66 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Houston, TX → HOU 15m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 31m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DFW → Providence, TX 36m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Providence, TX DFW — Dallas Fort Worth International Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between HOU and DFW. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

6h 57m

6h 5m on road

Total Cost

$29

CO2

15 kg

Route

FlixBus 2242

Door-to-Door Timeline

Houston, TX → Downtown Houston (Gray St.) (2HO) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 365m

Arrival 10m

Denton (2DN) → Providence, TX 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $29) $29

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

Stations

From 2HO — Downtown Houston (Gray St.) 1 mi, ~10m drive

To 2DN — Denton 11 mi, ~17m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	5h 5m	3h 22m	6h 57m
Total cost (1 person)	$97	$185	$29
Carbon footprint	113 kg CO₂	66 kg CO₂	15 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: FlixBus 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

279.5 mi 5h 5m

via I 45, DNT, US 380

Alternative (+54 min)

310 mi 5h 59m

via I 45, US 175 Bus, TX 19

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