Drive or Fly: Las Cruces, NM to Columbus, NM?

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 LRU–LRU. At 91 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 53m

Distance

91.7 mi

Total Cost

$55

CO2

37 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$20

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 39m

7m in the air

Air Distance

61 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

15 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Las Cruces, NM → LRU 13m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 7m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LRU → Columbus, NM 79m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Las Cruces, NM LRU — Las Cruces International Airport 9 mi, ~13m drive

Columbus, NM LRU — Las Cruces International Airport 53 mi, ~79m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between LRU and LRU. 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 18m

1h 48m on rail

Total Cost

$16

CO2

5 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Las Cruces, NM → El Paso 63m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 108m

Arrival 10m

Deming Amtrak → Columbus, NM 47m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $16) $16

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

Stations

From El Paso 42 mi, ~63m drive

To Deming Amtrak 31 mi, ~47m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~5/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 5 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

2h 37m

1h 15m on road

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Greyhound US1030s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Las Cruces, NM → Las Cruces(Road Runner Transit) (LAC6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 75m

Arrival 10m

Deming (McDonald's) (DIG6) → Columbus, NM 47m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $6) $6

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

Stations

From LAC6 — Las Cruces(Road Runner Transit) 0 mi, ~10m drive

To DIG6 — Deming (McDonald's) 31 mi, ~47m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	1h 53m	3h 39m	4h 18m	2h 37m
Total cost (1 person)	$55	$122	$16	$6
Carbon footprint	37 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂	5 kg CO₂	3 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, FlixBus 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 17, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Las Cruces, NM to Columbus, NM with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.