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

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No direct flights for MFE–LBB. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

11h 7m

Distance

622 mi

Total Cost

$318

CO2

251 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$138

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

3h 26m

1h 6m in the air

Air Distance

554 mi

Total Cost

$197

CO2

141 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

McAllen, TX → MFE 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 66m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LBB → Lubbock, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $142) $142

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

McAllen, TX MFE — McAllen Miller International Airport 2 mi, ~10m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 7h 41m 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	11h 7m	3h 26m
Total cost (1 person)	$318	$197
Carbon footprint	251 kg CO₂	141 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 12, 2026.

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