Drive or Fly: Plano, TX to Fort Stockton, 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 DAL–MAF. At 466 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

8h 6m

Distance

466.1 mi

Total Cost

$138

CO2

188 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$103

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

5h 13m

47m in the air

Air Distance

391 mi

Total Cost

$191

CO2

100 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Plano, TX → DAL 22m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 47m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MAF → Fort Stockton, TX 124m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $136) $136

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Plano, TX DAL — Dallas Love Field 15 mi, ~22m drive

Fort Stockton, TX MAF — Midland International Air and Space Port 83 mi, ~124m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DAL and MAF. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 53m 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

22h 25m

19h 49m on rail

Total Cost

$75

CO2

22 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Plano, TX → Dallas 27m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1189m

Arrival 10m

Sanderson Amtrak → Fort Stockton, TX 89m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $75) $75

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

Stations

From Dallas 18 mi, ~27m drive

To Sanderson Amtrak 59 mi, ~89m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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 3 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	8h 6m	5h 13m	22h 25m
Total cost (1 person)	$138	$191	$75
Carbon footprint	188 kg CO₂	100 kg CO₂	22 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

466.1 mi 8h 6m

via I 20, TX 349, US 67

Alternative (+74 min)

515.6 mi 9h 20m

via I 10, I 35E, TX 29

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