Drive or Fly: Montopolis, TX to Rio Bravo, 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–LRD. At 248 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 33m

Distance

248.8 mi

Total Cost

$90

CO2

101 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

2h 56m

27m in the air

Air Distance

227 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

58 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Montopolis, TX → AUS 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 27m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LRD → Rio Bravo, TX 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Rio Bravo, TX LRD — Laredo International Airport 13 mi, ~19m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between AUS and LRD. 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

8h 4m

6h 39m on road

Total Cost

$24

CO2

14 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Montopolis, TX → Austin Eastside Bus Plaza (AUS6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 399m

Arrival 10m

Nuevo Laredo Bus Station (NLX6) → Rio Bravo, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $24) $24

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

Stations

From AUS6 — Austin Eastside Bus Plaza 0 mi, ~30m drive

To NLX6 — Nuevo Laredo Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~28/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

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 33m	2h 56m	8h 4m
Total cost (1 person)	$90	$184	$24
Carbon footprint	101 kg CO₂	58 kg CO₂	14 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

248.8 mi 4h 33m

via I 35, I 10; US 87, US 83

Alternative (+1 min)

258.3 mi 4h 34m

via I 35, TX 130 Toll, I 10; US 90; TX 130

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