Drive or Fly: Lorena, 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

10h 50m

Distance

632.1 mi

Total Cost

$320

CO2

255 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$140

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 40m

1h 6m in the air

Air Distance

546 mi

Total Cost

$197

CO2

139 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lorena, TX → ACT 23m

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

Lorena, TX ACT — Waco Regional Airport 16 mi, ~23m 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 10m 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 41m

21h 33m on rail

Total Cost

$107

CO2

31 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lorena, TX → Mcgregor Amtrak 18m

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 12 mi, ~18m 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 50m	3h 40m	22h 41m
Total cost (1 person)	$320	$197	$107
Carbon footprint	255 kg CO₂	139 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

632.1 mi 10h 49m

via I 10, US 190, RM 864

Shortest (+5 min)

621.3 mi 10h 55m

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

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