Drive or Fly: Presidio, TX to Houston, TX?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No direct flights for CNM–HOU. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

11h 14m

Distance

657.2 mi

Total Cost

$326

CO2

266 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$146

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 8m

1h 5m in the air

Air Distance

541 mi

Total Cost

$197

CO2

138 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Presidio, TX → CNM 288m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 65m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

HOU → Houston, TX 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $142) $142

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Houston, TX HOU — William P. Hobby Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 6m 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

16h 49m

14h 15m on rail

Total Cost

$100

CO2

29 kg

Route

Sunset Limited

Door-to-Door Timeline

Presidio, TX → Alpine Amtrak Station 104m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 855m

Arrival 10m

Houston → Houston, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $100) $100

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

Stations

From Alpine Amtrak Station 70 mi, ~104m drive

To Houston 0 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/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 2 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	11h 14m	8h 8m	16h 49m
Total cost (1 person)	$326	$197	$100
Carbon footprint	266 kg CO₂	138 kg CO₂	29 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 Presidio, TX to Houston, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.