Drive or Fly: Montopolis, TX to San Carlos, 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–MFE. At 314 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 34m

Distance

314.8 mi

Total Cost

$105

CO2

127 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$70

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 3m

33m in the air

Air Distance

274 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

70 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Montopolis, TX → AUS 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 33m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MFE → San Carlos, TX 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

San Carlos, TX MFE — McAllen Miller International Airport 13 mi, ~20m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 31m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 38m

6h 45m on road

Total Cost

$31

CO2

16 kg

Route

FlixBus US1166

Door-to-Door Timeline

Montopolis, TX → Austin Eastside Bus Plaza (AUS6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 405m

Arrival 10m

Mcallen Bus Station (MLN6) → San Carlos, TX 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $31) $31

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

Stations

From AUS6 — Austin Eastside Bus Plaza 1 mi, ~10m drive

To MLN6 — Mcallen Bus Station 12 mi, ~18m 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	5h 34m	3h 3m	7h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$105	$186	$31
Carbon footprint	127 kg CO₂	70 kg CO₂	16 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

314.8 mi 5h 33m

via I 69C; US 281, US 281, I 37

Shortest (+0 min)

307 mi 5h 34m

via I 69C; US 281, US 281, I 35

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