Drive or Fly: Richardson, TX to Brownsville, 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 DAL–BRO. At 538 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

9h 50m

Distance

538.3 mi

Total Cost

$154

CO2

217 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$119

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 24m

59m in the air

Air Distance

489 mi

Total Cost

$195

CO2

125 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Richardson, TX → DAL 15m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 59m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BRO → Brownsville, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $140) $140

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Richardson, TX DAL — Dallas Love Field 10 mi, ~15m drive

Brownsville, TX BRO — Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DAL and BRO. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 6h 26m 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

13h 5m

11h 40m on road

Total Cost

$53

CO2

31 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Richardson, TX → Dallas Bus Station (DLD6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 700m

Arrival 10m

Brownsville Bus Station (BRN6) → Brownsville, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $53) $53

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

Stations

From DLD6 — Dallas Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To BRN6 — Brownsville Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m 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	9h 50m	3h 24m	13h 5m
Total cost (1 person)	$154	$195	$53
Carbon footprint	217 kg CO₂	125 kg CO₂	31 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 18, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Richardson, TX to Brownsville, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.