Drive or Fly: Progreso, 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 MFE–AUS. At 316 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

6h 9m

Distance

316.3 mi

Total Cost

$105

CO2

128 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$70
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

34m in the air

Air Distance

287 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

73 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Progreso, TX → MFE 28m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 34m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
AUS → Montopolis, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Progreso, TX MFE — McAllen Miller International Airport 18 mi, ~28m drive
Montopolis, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 57m 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

10h 45m

9h 45m on road

Total Cost

$31

CO2

16 kg

Route

FlixBus US1164

Door-to-Door Timeline

Progreso, TX → Harlingen Bus Station (HGN6) 25m
Boarding 15m
Bus ride 585m
Arrival 10m
Austin Eastside Bus Plaza (AUS6) → Montopolis, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $31) $31

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

Stations

From HGN6 — Harlingen Bus Station 17 mi, ~25m 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 9m 3h 12m 10h 45m
Total cost (1 person) $105 $186 $31
Carbon footprint 128 kg CO2 73 kg CO2 16 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 Progreso, TX to Montopolis, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.