Drive or Fly: Marfa, TX to Austin, 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 CNM–AUS. At 428 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 31m

Distance

428.9 mi

Total Cost

$130

CO2

173 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$95

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

6h 26m

45m in the air

Air Distance

375 mi

Total Cost

$190

CO2

96 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Marfa, TX → CNM 211m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 45m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AUS → Austin, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Marfa, TX CNM — Cavern City Air Terminal 141 mi, ~211m drive

Austin, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CNM and AUS. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

13h 44m

12h 21m on rail

Total Cost

$70

CO2

20 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Marfa, TX → Alpine Amtrak Station 33m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 741m

Arrival 10m

Austin → Austin, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $70) $70

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

Stations

From Alpine Amtrak Station 22 mi, ~33m drive

To Austin 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 4 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	7h 31m	6h 26m	13h 44m
Total cost (1 person)	$130	$190	$70
Carbon footprint	173 kg CO₂	96 kg CO₂	20 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

428.9 mi 7h 31m

via La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor, US 290, US 67

Alternative (+53 min)

452.9 mi 8h 24m

via La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor, TX 71, US 67

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