Drive or Fly: Lacy-Lakeview, 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 ACT–ELP. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

11h 5m

Distance

630.5 mi

Total Cost

$319

CO2

255 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$139

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 28m

1h 6m in the air

Air Distance

552 mi

Total Cost

$197

CO2

141 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lacy-Lakeview, TX → ACT 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 66m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ELP → El Paso, TX 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $142) $142

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Lacy-Lakeview, TX ACT — Waco Regional Airport 8 mi, ~11m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 7h 37m 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

22h 56m

21h 33m on rail

Total Cost

$107

CO2

31 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lacy-Lakeview, TX → Mcgregor Amtrak 33m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1293m

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 Mcgregor Amtrak 22 mi, ~33m 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	11h 5m	3h 28m	22h 56m
Total cost (1 person)	$319	$197	$107
Carbon footprint	255 kg CO₂	141 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

630.5 mi 11h 5m

via I 10, TX 158, I 20; TX 349

Alternative (+3 min)

635.9 mi 11h 8m

via I 10, US 190, US 84

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