Drive or Fly: Santa Fe, TX to Lubbock, 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 HOU–LBB. At 569 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

8h 56m

Distance

569.7 mi

Total Cost

$162

CO2

230 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$127

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 41m

59m in the air

Air Distance

492 mi

Total Cost

$195

CO2

125 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Santa Fe, TX → HOU 32m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 59m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LBB → Lubbock, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $140) $140

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Santa Fe, TX HOU — William P. Hobby Airport 21 mi, ~32m drive

Lubbock, TX LBB — Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between HOU and LBB. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 5h 15m 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	8h 56m	3h 41m
Total cost (1 person)	$162	$195
Carbon footprint	230 kg CO₂	125 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 12, 2026.

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