Drive or Fly: Presidio, TX to Arlington, 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 CNM–DFW. At 583 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

10h 20m

Distance

583.6 mi

Total Cost

$309

CO2

236 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$129

Hotel (1 room, 1 night) $110

Meals (1 pax, 2 days) $70

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

− Requires 2 days of driving

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

8h 4m

58m in the air

Air Distance

482 mi

Total Cost

$194

CO2

123 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Presidio, TX → CNM 288m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 58m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DFW → Arlington, TX 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $139) $139

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Presidio, TX CNM — Cavern City Air Terminal 192 mi, ~288m drive

Arlington, TX DFW — Dallas Fort Worth International Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CNM and DFW. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 16m 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

19h 45m

17h 2m on rail

Total Cost

$82

CO2

24 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Presidio, TX → Alpine Amtrak Station 104m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1022m

Arrival 10m

Fort Worth → Arlington, TX 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $82) $82

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

Stations

From Alpine Amtrak Station 70 mi, ~104m drive

To Fort Worth 13 mi, ~19m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 4 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	10h 20m	8h 4m	19h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$309	$194	$82
Carbon footprint	236 kg CO₂	123 kg CO₂	24 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

583.6 mi 10h 20m

via I 20; TX 158, US 67; FM 170, TX 349

Alternative (+87 min)

637 mi 11h 47m

via La Entrada al Pacifico Corridor, US 67, US 281

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