Drive or Fly: Lubbock, TX to Ballinger, TX?

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 LBB–SJT. At 181 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 12m

Distance

181.7 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 33m

20m in the air

Air Distance

169 mi

Total Cost

$127

CO2

43 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lubbock, TX → LBB 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 20m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SJT → Ballinger, TX 63m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Airports

Lubbock, TX LBB — Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Ballinger, TX SJT — San Angelo Regional Mathis Field 42 mi, ~63m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between LBB and SJT. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 17m

3h 50m on road

Total Cost

$18

CO2

10 kg

Route

Greyhound US1184s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lubbock, TX → Lubbock Citibus DT Transfer Plaza (LUB6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 230m

Arrival 10m

Concho Valley Transit District (SAO6) → Ballinger, TX 52m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $18) $18

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

Stations

From LUB6 — Lubbock Citibus DT Transfer Plaza 1 mi, ~10m drive

To SAO6 — Concho Valley Transit District 34 mi, ~52m 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	Bus
Door-to-door time	3h 12m	3h 33m	5h 17m
Total cost (1 person)	$75	$127	$18
Carbon footprint	73 kg CO₂	43 kg CO₂	10 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: 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 12, 2026.

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