Drive or Fly: Memphis, 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 AMA–AUS. At 404 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

6h 39m

Distance

404.8 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

164 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$90

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

4h 44m

42m in the air

Air Distance

348 mi

Total Cost

$189

CO2

89 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Memphis, TX → AMA 112m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 42m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AUS → Austin, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $134) $134

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Memphis, TX AMA — Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport 75 mi, ~112m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between AMA 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	6h 39m	4h 44m
Total cost (1 person)	$125	$189
Carbon footprint	164 kg CO₂	89 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 Memphis, TX to Austin, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.