Drive or Fly: Meadow Lake, NM to Chaparral, NM?

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 ABQ–ELP. At 247 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 54m

Distance

247.7 mi

Total Cost

$90

CO2

100 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$55

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

3h 10m

23m in the air

Air Distance

192 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

49 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Meadow Lake, NM → ABQ 25m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 23m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ELP → Chaparral, NM 22m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Meadow Lake, NM ABQ — Albuquerque International Sunport 17 mi, ~25m drive

Chaparral, NM ELP — El Paso International Airport 15 mi, ~22m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ABQ and ELP. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 19m

3h 55m on road

Total Cost

$25

CO2

13 kg

Route

Greyhound US1140

Door-to-Door Timeline

Meadow Lake, NM → Albuquerque Bus Station (ABQ6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 235m

Arrival 10m

El Paso Bus Station (W San Antonio St) (ELP6) → Chaparral, NM 29m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $25) $25

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

Stations

From ABQ6 — Albuquerque Bus Station 20 mi, ~30m drive

To ELP6 — El Paso Bus Station (W San Antonio St) 19 mi, ~29m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	3h 54m	3h 10m	5h 19m
Total cost (1 person)	$90	$183	$25
Carbon footprint	100 kg CO₂	49 kg CO₂	13 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: FlixBus 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 16, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Meadow Lake, NM to Chaparral, NM with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.