Drive or Fly: Sparks, 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 direct flights for ELP–ACT. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

11h 33m

Distance

688.5 mi

Total Cost

$333

CO2

278 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$153

Hotel (1 room, 1 night) $110

Meals (1 pax, 2 days) $70

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

− Requires 2 days of driving

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

5h 1m

1h 11m in the air

Air Distance

588 mi

Total Cost

$199

CO2

150 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sparks, TX → ELP 19m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 71m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ACT → Rhode Island, TX 91m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $144) $144

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Sparks, TX ELP — El Paso International Airport 12 mi, ~19m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 6h 32m 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

27h 26m

24h 33m on rail

Total Cost

$129

CO2

37 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sparks, TX → El Paso 24m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 1473m

Arrival 10m

Mineola → Rhode Island, TX 109m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

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

Stations

From El Paso 16 mi, ~24m drive

To Mineola 73 mi, ~109m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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 3 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	11h 33m	5h 1m	27h 26m
Total cost (1 person)	$333	$199	$129
Carbon footprint	278 kg CO₂	150 kg CO₂	37 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 13, 2026.

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