Drive or Fly: Montopolis, TX to Plains, 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 AUS–LBB. At 346 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 44m

Distance

346 mi

Total Cost

$111

CO2

140 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$76

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 5m

36m in the air

Air Distance

297 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

76 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Montopolis, TX → AUS 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 36m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LBB → Plains, TX 79m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Montopolis, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Plains, TX LBB — Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport 53 mi, ~79m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 39m 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	6h 44m	4h 5m
Total cost (1 person)	$111	$187
Carbon footprint	140 kg CO₂	76 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

346 mi 6h 43m

via TX 153, US 183, US 183; US 190

Alternative (+22 min)

370.2 mi 7h 6m

via US 87, TX 71, US 87; TX 158; TX 163

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