Drive or Fly: Pasadena, TX to El Paso, TX?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No direct flights for HOU–ELP. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

12h 37m

Distance

757.5 mi

Total Cost

$347

CO2

306 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$167

Hotel (1 room, 1 night) $110

Meals (1 pax, 2 days) $70

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

− Requires 2 days of driving

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 43m

1h 22m in the air

Air Distance

685 mi

Total Cost

$290

CO2

175 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Pasadena, TX → HOU 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 82m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ELP → El Paso, TX 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $235) $235

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Pasadena, TX HOU — William P. Hobby Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

El Paso, TX ELP — El Paso International Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between HOU and ELP. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 8h 54m 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

20h 36m

19h 30m on rail

Total Cost

$135

CO2

39 kg

Route

Sunset Limited

Door-to-Door Timeline

Pasadena, TX → Houston 16m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1170m

Arrival 10m

El Paso → El Paso, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

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

Stations

From Houston 11 mi, ~16m drive

To El Paso 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 2 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

15h 20m

14h 35m on road

Total Cost

$75

CO2

39 kg

Route

Greyhound US1001

Door-to-Door Timeline

Pasadena, TX → Houston Bus Station (Greyhound) (HOU6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 875m

Arrival 10m

El Paso Bus Station (W San Antonio St) (ELP6) → El Paso, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $75) $75

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

Stations

From HOU6 — Houston Bus Station (Greyhound) 6 mi, ~10m drive

To ELP6 — El Paso Bus Station (W San Antonio St) 0 mi, ~10m 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	12h 37m	3h 43m	20h 36m	15h 20m
Total cost (1 person)	$347	$290	$135	$75
Carbon footprint	306 kg CO₂	175 kg CO₂	39 kg CO₂	39 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

757.5 mi 12h 37m

via I 10; US 87, I 10; US 90, Loop 1604

Alternative (+75 min)

799 mi 13h 53m

via I 10, US 190, TX 71

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