Drive or Fly: Rhode Island, TX to Weslaco, 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 ACT–MFE. At 471 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

8h 55m

Distance

471.9 mi

Total Cost

$140

CO2

191 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$105

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

4h 43m

49m in the air

Air Distance

405 mi

Total Cost

$191

CO2

103 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Rhode Island, TX → ACT 91m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 49m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MFE → Weslaco, TX 23m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $136) $136

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Rhode Island, TX ACT — Waco Regional Airport 60 mi, ~91m drive

Weslaco, TX MFE — McAllen Miller International Airport 15 mi, ~23m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 4h 12m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	8h 55m	4h 43m
Total cost (1 person)	$140	$191
Carbon footprint	191 kg CO₂	103 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

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 Rhode Island, TX to Weslaco, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.