Drive or Fly: Pecos, TX to Houston, 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 CNM–HOU. At 558 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

9h 27m

Distance

558.4 mi

Total Cost

$159

CO2

226 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$124

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

5h 12m

1h in the air

Air Distance

497 mi

Total Cost

$195

CO2

127 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Pecos, TX → CNM 117m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 60m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

HOU → Houston, TX 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $140) $140

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Pecos, TX CNM — Cavern City Air Terminal 78 mi, ~117m drive

Houston, TX HOU — William P. Hobby Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 4h 15m 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

16h 56m

14h 15m on rail

Total Cost

$100

CO2

29 kg

Route

Sunset Limited

Door-to-Door Timeline

Pecos, TX → Alpine Amtrak Station 111m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 855m

Arrival 10m

Houston → Houston, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $100) $100

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

Stations

From Alpine Amtrak Station 74 mi, ~111m drive

To Houston 0 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	9h 27m	5h 12m	16h 56m
Total cost (1 person)	$159	$195	$100
Carbon footprint	226 kg CO₂	127 kg CO₂	29 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 — 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 12, 2026.

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