Drive or Fly: Van Horn, 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 direct flights for CNM–HOU. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

10h 19m

Distance

624.9 mi

Total Cost

$318

CO2

252 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$138

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 47m

1h 9m in the air

Air Distance

571 mi

Total Cost

$198

CO2

146 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Van Horn, TX → CNM 143m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 69m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

HOU → Houston, TX 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $143) $143

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Van Horn, TX CNM — Cavern City Air Terminal 96 mi, ~143m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 4h 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	10h 19m	5h 47m
Total cost (1 person)	$318	$198
Carbon footprint	252 kg CO₂	146 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

624.9 mi 10h 19m

via I 10, I 10; TX 130, Loop 1604

Alternative (+77 min)

664.9 mi 11h 36m

via I 10, TX 71, US 190

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