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Drive or Fly: Lubbock, TX to Cleveland, 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–IAH. At 552 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

9h 47m

Distance

552.8 mi

Total Cost

$157

CO2

223 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$122
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
Driver fatigue on longer stretches
Wear and tear on vehicle
Fuel price fluctuations
Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 49m

55m in the air

Air Distance

455 mi

Total Cost

$193

CO2

116 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lubbock, TX → LBB 10m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 55m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
IAH → Cleveland, TX 44m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $138) $138
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Lubbock, TX LBB — Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive
Cleveland, TX IAH — George Bush Intercontinental Airport 29 mi, ~44m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between LBB and IAH. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 5h 58m 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

At a Glance

Drive Fly
Door-to-door time 9h 47m 3h 49m
Total cost (1 person) $157 $193
Carbon footprint 223 kg CO2 116 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
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
552.8 mi 9h 46m

via US 84, I 45; US 287, US 287

Alternative (+31 min)
567.1 mi 10h 18m

via I 45, US 82; TX 114, US 82; US 287

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