Drive or Fly: Port Isabel, TX to Montopolis, 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 BRO–AUS. At 345 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

6h 52m

Distance

345.7 mi

Total Cost

$112

CO2

140 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$77

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 12m

35m in the air

Air Distance

290 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

74 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Port Isabel, TX → BRO 27m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 35m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AUS → Montopolis, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Port Isabel, TX BRO — Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport 18 mi, ~27m drive

Montopolis, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 40m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

9h 22m

8h 15m on road

Total Cost

$33

CO2

17 kg

Route

FlixBus US1166

Door-to-Door Timeline

Port Isabel, TX → Brownsville Bus Station (BRN6) 32m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 495m

Arrival 10m

Austin Eastside Bus Plaza (AUS6) → Montopolis, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $33) $33

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

Stations

From BRN6 — Brownsville Bus Station 21 mi, ~32m drive

To AUS6 — Austin Eastside Bus Plaza 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	6h 52m	3h 12m	9h 22m
Total cost (1 person)	$112	$187	$33
Carbon footprint	140 kg CO₂	74 kg CO₂	17 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: FlixBus 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 13, 2026.

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