Drive or Fly: Raton, NM to Enchanted Hills, NM?

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 TSM–ABQ. At 215 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 42m

Distance

215.5 mi

Total Cost

$83

CO2

87 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$48

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

4h 43m

19m in the air

Air Distance

162 mi

Total Cost

$181

CO2

41 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Raton, NM → TSM 113m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 19m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ABQ → Enchanted Hills, NM 31m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Raton, NM TSM — Taos Regional Airport 75 mi, ~113m drive

Enchanted Hills, NM ABQ — Albuquerque International Sunport 21 mi, ~31m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between TSM and ABQ. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ 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

6h 47m

5h 7m on rail

Total Cost

$35

CO2

12 kg

Route

Southwest Chief

Door-to-Door Timeline

Raton, NM → Raton 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 307m

Arrival 10m

Albuquerque Alvarado Transportation Center → Enchanted Hills, NM 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $35) $35

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

Stations

From Raton 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Albuquerque Alvarado Transportation Center 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ 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	3h 42m	4h 43m	6h 47m
Total cost (1 person)	$83	$181	$35
Carbon footprint	87 kg CO₂	41 kg CO₂	12 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 15, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Raton, NM to Enchanted Hills, NM with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.