Drive or Fly: Houston, TX to Troy, 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–ACT. At 179 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 32m

Distance

179.1 mi

Total Cost

$75

CO2

72 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$40

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 15m

18m in the air

Air Distance

153 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

39 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Houston, TX → HOU 15m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ACT → Troy, TX 42m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

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

Troy, TX ACT — Waco Regional Airport 28 mi, ~42m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between HOU and ACT. 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

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	3h 32m	3h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$75	$126
Carbon footprint	72 kg CO₂	39 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

179.1 mi 3h 32m

via TX 6, TX 249 Toll, FM 485

Shortest (+8 min)

174.1 mi 3h 40m

via US 290, TX 36, FM 485

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