Drive or Fly: San Carlos, TX to Montopolis, 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–AUS. At 294 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 41m

Distance

294 mi

Total Cost

$100

CO2

119 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$65

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

3h 3m

33m in the air

Air Distance

274 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

70 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

San Carlos, TX → MFE 20m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 33m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AUS → Montopolis, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

San Carlos, TX MFE — McAllen Miller International Airport 13 mi, ~20m drive

Montopolis, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 38m 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

7h 48m

6h 55m on road

Total Cost

$31

CO2

16 kg

Route

FlixBus US1166

Door-to-Door Timeline

San Carlos, TX → Mcallen Bus Station (MLN6) 18m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 415m

Arrival 10m

Austin Eastside Bus Plaza (AUS6) → Montopolis, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $31) $31

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

Stations

From MLN6 — Mcallen Bus Station 12 mi, ~18m drive

To AUS6 — Austin Eastside Bus Plaza 1 mi, ~10m 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	5h 41m	3h 3m	7h 48m
Total cost (1 person)	$100	$186	$31
Carbon footprint	119 kg CO₂	70 kg CO₂	16 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

294 mi 5h 41m

via I 69C; US 281, TX 72, TX 80; TX 97

Alternative (+0 min)

307.7 mi 5h 41m

via I 69C; US 281, US 281, I 35

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