Drive or Fly: Marfa, TX to Rhode Island, 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–ACT. At 560 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

10h 19m

Distance

560.1 mi

Total Cost

$304

CO2

226 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$124

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

7h 59m

57m in the air

Air Distance

473 mi

Total Cost

$194

CO2

120 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Marfa, TX → CNM 211m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 57m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ACT → Rhode Island, TX 91m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $139) $139

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Rhode Island, TX ACT — Waco Regional Airport 60 mi, ~91m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CNM and ACT. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 20m 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

23h 25m

20h 23m on rail

Total Cost

$101

CO2

29 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Marfa, TX → Alpine Amtrak Station 33m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1223m

Arrival 10m

Mineola → Rhode Island, TX 109m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $101) $101

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

Stations

From Alpine Amtrak Station 22 mi, ~33m drive

To Mineola 73 mi, ~109m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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 3 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 19m	7h 59m	23h 25m
Total cost (1 person)	$304	$194	$101
Carbon footprint	226 kg CO₂	120 kg CO₂	29 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.

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