Drive or Fly: Richardson, TX to Plano, 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–DAL. At 6 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

10m

Distance

6.8 mi

Total Cost

$37

CO2

3 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$2

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

2h 38m

1m in the air

Air Distance

5 mi

Total Cost

$120

CO2

1 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Richardson, TX → DAL 15m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 1m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DAL → Plano, TX 22m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $120) $120

Airports

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

Plano, TX DAL — Dallas Love Field 15 mi, ~22m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DAL and DAL. 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

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

2h 1m

1h on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Greyhound US1146

Door-to-Door Timeline

Richardson, TX → Dallas Bus Station (DLD6) 16m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 60m

Arrival 10m

McKinney (New Midway Convenience) (MKT6) → Plano, TX 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

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

Stations

From DLD6 — Dallas Bus Station 11 mi, ~16m drive

To MKT6 — McKinney (New Midway Convenience) 14 mi, ~20m 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	10m	2h 38m	2h 1m
Total cost (1 person)	$37	$120	$3
Carbon footprint	3 kg CO₂	1 kg CO₂	2 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 12, 2026.

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