Drive or Fly: Houston, TX to Stratford, TX?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No direct flights for HOU–LBL. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

12h 5m

Distance

682.6 mi

Total Cost

$332

CO2

276 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$152

Hotel (1 room, 1 night) $110

Meals (1 pax, 2 days) $70

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

− Requires 2 days of driving

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

5h 25m

1h 12m in the air

Air Distance

597 mi

Total Cost

$199

CO2

152 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Houston, TX → HOU 15m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 72m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LBL → Stratford, TX 118m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $144) $144

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Stratford, TX LBL — Liberal Mid-America Regional Airport 79 mi, ~118m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 6h 40m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	12h 5m	5h 25m
Total cost (1 person)	$332	$199
Carbon footprint	276 kg CO₂	152 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

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 13, 2026.

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