Drive or Fly: New Braunfels, TX to Arlington, 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 SAT–DFW. At 246 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 28m

Distance

246.2 mi

Total Cost

$89

CO2

99 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$54

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 20m

26m in the air

Air Distance

218 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

56 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

New Braunfels, TX → SAT 36m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DFW → Arlington, TX 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

New Braunfels, TX SAT — San Antonio International Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

Arlington, TX DFW — Dallas Fort Worth International Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SAT and DFW. 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

6h 58m

5h 35m on rail

Total Cost

$40

CO2

12 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

New Braunfels, TX → San Marcos Amtrak 24m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 335m

Arrival 10m

Fort Worth → Arlington, TX 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $40) $40

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

Stations

From San Marcos Amtrak 16 mi, ~24m drive

To Fort Worth 13 mi, ~19m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~9/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 9 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

6h 38m

5h 30m on road

Total Cost

$24

CO2

13 kg

Route

FlixBus 2230

Door-to-Door Timeline

New Braunfels, TX → San Marcos (CARTS) (SMT6) 24m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 330m

Arrival 10m

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (2DF) → Arlington, TX 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $24) $24

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

Stations

From SMT6 — San Marcos (CARTS) 16 mi, ~24m drive

To 2DF — Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport 13 mi, ~19m 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 28m	3h 20m	6h 58m	6h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$89	$184	$40	$24
Carbon footprint	99 kg CO₂	56 kg CO₂	12 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: Amtrak GTFS, 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

246.2 mi 4h 27m

via I 35; US 290, I 35, I 35W

Alternative (+46 min)

256 mi 5h 14m

via I 35; US 290, I 35, TX 317

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