Drive or Fly: Val Verde Park, 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 scheduled commercial flights found for SJT–ACT. At 405 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 35m

Distance

405.6 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

164 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$90

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

7h 38m

39m in the air

Air Distance

321 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

82 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Val Verde Park, TX → SJT 208m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 39m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ACT → Rhode Island, TX 91m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Val Verde Park, TX SJT — San Angelo Regional Mathis Field 139 mi, ~208m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SJT and ACT. 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

18h 45m

16h 6m on rail

Total Cost

$79

CO2

23 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Val Verde Park, TX → Del Rio Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 966m

Arrival 10m

Mineola → Rhode Island, TX 109m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $79) $79

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

Stations

From Del Rio Amtrak Station 4 mi, ~10m 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	7h 35m	7h 38m	18h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$125	$188	$79
Carbon footprint	164 kg CO₂	82 kg CO₂	23 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

405.6 mi 7h 34m

via US 90, I 35; US 290, I 35

Alternative (+4 min)

412.3 mi 7h 39m

via US 90, US 79, TX 130 Toll

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