Drive or Fly: Hoxie, AR to Hot Springs, AR?

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 JBR–HOT. At 180 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 19m

Distance

180.5 mi

Total Cost

$75

CO2

73 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 5m

19m in the air

Air Distance

159 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

40 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Hoxie, AR → JBR 36m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 19m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

HOT → Hot Springs, AR 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Hoxie, AR JBR — Jonesboro Municipal Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

Hot Springs, AR HOT — Memorial Field Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between JBR and HOT. 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

4h 40m

3h 25m on rail

Total Cost

$32

CO2

9 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Hoxie, AR → Walnut Ridge Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 205m

Arrival 10m

Malvern Amtrak → Hot Springs, AR 25m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $32) $32

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

Stations

From Walnut Ridge Amtrak Station 2 mi, ~10m drive

To Malvern Amtrak 17 mi, ~25m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 8 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	3h 19m	3h 5m	4h 40m
Total cost (1 person)	$75	$126	$32
Carbon footprint	73 kg CO₂	40 kg CO₂	9 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 18, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Hoxie, AR to Hot Springs, AR with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.