Drive or Fly: Uvalde Estates, TX to Houston, 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 SAT–HOU. At 282 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 11m

Distance

282.2 mi

Total Cost

$97

CO2

114 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$62

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

4h 57m

33m in the air

Air Distance

272 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

69 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Uvalde Estates, TX → SAT 129m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 33m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

HOU → Houston, TX 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Uvalde Estates, TX SAT — San Antonio International Airport 86 mi, ~129m drive

Houston, TX HOU — William P. Hobby Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ 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

12h 27m

9h 58m on rail

Total Cost

$67

CO2

19 kg

Route

Sunset Limited

Door-to-Door Timeline

Uvalde Estates, TX → Del Rio Amtrak Station 99m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 598m

Arrival 10m

Houston → Houston, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $67) $67

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

Stations

From Del Rio Amtrak Station 66 mi, ~99m drive

To Houston 0 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/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 2 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	5h 11m	4h 57m	12h 27m
Total cost (1 person)	$97	$186	$67
Carbon footprint	114 kg CO₂	69 kg CO₂	19 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 17, 2026.

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