Drive or Fly: Lubbock, TX to San Marcos, 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–AUS. At 402 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 20m

Distance

402.7 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

163 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$89

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 32m

41m in the air

Air Distance

344 mi

Total Cost

$189

CO2

88 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lubbock, TX → LBB 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 41m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AUS → San Marcos, TX 41m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $134) $134

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

San Marcos, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 27 mi, ~41m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 48m 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	7h 20m	3h 32m
Total cost (1 person)	$124	$189
Carbon footprint	163 kg CO₂	88 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

402.7 mi 7h 20m

via US 84, TX 153, US 183

Alternative (+24 min)

427.9 mi 7h 44m

via US 87, US 83, RM 473

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