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Drive or Fly: San Marcos, TX to El Paso, 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 AUS–ELP. At 588 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

9h 34m

Distance

588.3 mi

Total Cost

$165

CO2

238 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$130
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 55m

1h 3m in the air

Air Distance

523 mi

Total Cost

$196

CO2

133 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

San Marcos, TX → AUS 41m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 63m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
ELP → El Paso, TX 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $141) $141
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

San Marcos, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 27 mi, ~41m drive
El Paso, TX ELP — El Paso International Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 5h 39m 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

19h 25m

17h 45m on rail

Total Cost

$105

CO2

34 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

San Marcos, TX → San Marcos Amtrak 30m
Boarding 30m
Train ride 1065m
Arrival 10m
El Paso → El Paso, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $105) $105

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

Stations

From San Marcos Amtrak 0 mi, ~30m drive
To El Paso 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~5/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets
+ Walk around freely during the trip
+ Scenic views along the route
+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route
+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying
− Limited schedule — about 5 trips per week
− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable
− Need transportation to/from station
− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

Drive Fly Train
Door-to-door time 9h 34m 3h 55m 19h 25m
Total cost (1 person) $165 $196 $105
Carbon footprint 238 kg CO2 133 kg CO2 34 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: Amtrak 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest
588.3 mi 9h 33m

via I 10; US 87, I 35, Loop 1604

Alternative (+84 min)
628.1 mi 10h 58m

via I 10, TX 29, US 377

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