Drive or Fly: Texarkana, TX to Austin, 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 TXK–AUS. At 373 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

6h 33m

Distance

373 mi

Total Cost

$118

CO2

151 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$83

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

2h 57m

37m in the air

Air Distance

308 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

78 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Texarkana, TX → TXK 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 37m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AUS → Austin, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Texarkana, TX TXK — Texarkana Regional Airport (Webb Field) 4 mi, ~10m drive

Austin, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 36m 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

13h 47m

12h 47m on rail

Total Cost

$62

CO2

18 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Texarkana, TX → Texarkana Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 767m

Arrival 10m

Austin → Austin, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $62) $62

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

Stations

From Texarkana Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

To Austin 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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 6 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	6h 33m	2h 57m	13h 47m
Total cost (1 person)	$118	$187	$62
Carbon footprint	151 kg CO₂	78 kg CO₂	18 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 12, 2026.

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