Drive or Fly: Roma, TX to Rhode Island, 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 MFE–ACT. At 502 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

9h 9m

Distance

502.5 mi

Total Cost

$147

CO2

203 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$112

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

5h 36m

49m in the air

Air Distance

410 mi

Total Cost

$191

CO2

105 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Roma, TX → MFE 76m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 49m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ACT → Rhode Island, TX 91m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $136) $136

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Roma, TX MFE — McAllen Miller International Airport 51 mi, ~76m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 33m 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	9h 9m	5h 36m
Total cost (1 person)	$147	$191
Carbon footprint	203 kg CO₂	105 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 13, 2026.

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