Drive or Fly: Plano, TX to McCamey, 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 420 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

7h 16m

Distance

420.6 mi

Total Cost

$128

CO2

170 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$93

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

4h 28m

42m in the air

Air Distance

349 mi

Total Cost

$189

CO2

89 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Plano, TX → DAL 22m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 42m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MAF → McCamey, TX 84m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $134) $134

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

McCamey, TX MAF — Midland International Air and Space Port 56 mi, ~84m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 48m 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 40m

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 → McCamey, TX 104m

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 70 mi, ~104m 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	7h 16m	4h 28m	22h 40m
Total cost (1 person)	$128	$189	$75
Carbon footprint	170 kg CO₂	89 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 12, 2026.

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