Drive or Fly: Joshua, TX to El Paso, 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 FTW–ELP. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

10h 22m

Distance

618 mi

Total Cost

$317

CO2

250 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$137

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

3h 52m

1h 4m in the air

Air Distance

535 mi

Total Cost

$196

CO2

136 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Joshua, TX → FTW 37m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 64m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ELP → El Paso, TX 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $141) $141

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Joshua, TX FTW — Fort Worth Meacham International Airport 25 mi, ~37m drive

El Paso, TX ELP — El Paso International Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between FTW and ELP. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 6h 30m 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

23h 43m

22h 41m on rail

Total Cost

$107

CO2

31 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Joshua, TX → Cleburne Amtrak Station 12m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1361m

Arrival 10m

El Paso → El Paso, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $107) $107

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

Stations

From Cleburne Amtrak Station 8 mi, ~12m drive

To El Paso 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~5/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 5 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	10h 22m	3h 52m	23h 43m
Total cost (1 person)	$317	$196	$107
Carbon footprint	250 kg CO₂	136 kg CO₂	31 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 12, 2026.

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