Drive or Fly: Plano, TX to Hillsboro, 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–ACT. At 80 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

1h 30m

Distance

80.5 mi

Total Cost

$53

CO2

33 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$18

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 13m

9m in the air

Air Distance

74 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

19 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Plano, TX → DAL 22m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 9m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ACT → Hillsboro, TX 42m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

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

Hillsboro, TX ACT — Waco Regional Airport 28 mi, ~42m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DAL and ACT. 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

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

4h 14m

2h 34m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

5 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Plano, TX → Dallas 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 154m

Arrival 10m

Cleburne Amtrak Station → Hillsboro, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $9) $9

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

Stations

From Dallas 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Cleburne Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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 6 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	1h 30m	3h 13m	4h 14m
Total cost (1 person)	$53	$123	$9
Carbon footprint	33 kg CO₂	19 kg CO₂	5 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 Plano, TX to Hillsboro, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.