Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Drive or Fly: Plains, TX to Austin, 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 LBB–AUS. At 338 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 39m

Distance

338.9 mi

Total Cost

$110

CO2

137 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$75
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

4h 4m

35m in the air

Air Distance

293 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

75 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Plains, TX → LBB 79m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 35m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
AUS → Austin, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Plains, TX LBB — Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport 53 mi, ~79m drive
Austin, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 35m 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

At a Glance

Drive Fly
Door-to-door time 6h 39m 4h 4m
Total cost (1 person) $110 $187
Carbon footprint 137 kg CO2 75 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
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
338.9 mi 6h 39m

via TX 153, US 183, US 180

Alternative (+24 min)
344 mi 7h 4m

via TX 71, US 83, US 180

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