Drive or Fly: McKinney, TX to Gonzales, 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 DAL–AUS. At 289 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 9m

Distance

289.3 mi

Total Cost

$99

CO2

117 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$64

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

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 28m

31m in the air

Air Distance

260 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

66 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

McKinney, TX → DAL 42m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 31m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AUS → Gonzales, TX 75m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

McKinney, TX DAL — Dallas Love Field 28 mi, ~42m drive

Gonzales, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 50 mi, ~75m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DAL 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

9h 56m

7h 30m on rail

Total Cost

$42

CO2

12 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

McKinney, TX → Dallas 47m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 450m

Arrival 10m

San Marcos Amtrak → Gonzales, TX 59m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $42) $42

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

Stations

From Dallas 31 mi, ~47m drive

To San Marcos Amtrak 39 mi, ~59m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 6 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	5h 9m	4h 28m	9h 56m
Total cost (1 person)	$99	$185	$42
Carbon footprint	117 kg CO₂	66 kg CO₂	12 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 McKinney, TX to Gonzales, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.