Drive or Fly: Queen City, TX to San Antonio, 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 TXK–SAT. At 402 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 35m

Distance

402.5 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

163 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$89

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

3h 31m

44m in the air

Air Distance

363 mi

Total Cost

$190

CO2

93 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Queen City, TX → TXK 35m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 44m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SAT → San Antonio, TX 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Queen City, TX TXK — Texarkana Regional Airport (Webb Field) 23 mi, ~35m drive

San Antonio, TX SAT — San Antonio International Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between TXK and SAT. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 4h 4m 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

17h 46m

16h 26m on rail

Total Cost

$76

CO2

22 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Queen City, TX → Texarkana Amtrak Station 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 986m

Arrival 10m

San Antonio Amtrak Station → San Antonio, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $76) $76

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

Stations

From Texarkana Amtrak Station 20 mi, ~30m drive

To San Antonio Amtrak Station 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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 6 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 35m	3h 31m	17h 46m
Total cost (1 person)	$124	$190	$76
Carbon footprint	163 kg CO₂	93 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

402.5 mi 7h 34m

via I 35, TX 31, TX 155

Alternative (+9 min)

407.5 mi 7h 44m

via TX 155, US 79, TX 130 Toll

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Queen City, TX to San Antonio, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.