Drive or Fly: Waco, TX to Laredo, 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 ACT–LRD. At 335 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

5h 57m

Distance

335.3 mi

Total Cost

$109

CO2

135 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$74

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 58m

38m in the air

Air Distance

313 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

80 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Waco, TX → ACT 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 38m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LRD → Laredo, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Waco, TX ACT — Waco Regional Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

Laredo, TX LRD — Laredo International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 59m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 15m

6h 30m on road

Total Cost

$35

CO2

18 kg

Route

FlixBus US1161

Door-to-Door Timeline

Waco, TX → Waco Bus Stop (WAC6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 390m

Arrival 10m

Laredo Bus Station (LRO6) → Laredo, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $35) $35

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

Stations

From WAC6 — Waco Bus Stop 1 mi, ~10m drive

To LRO6 — Laredo Bus Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	5h 57m	2h 58m	7h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$109	$188	$35
Carbon footprint	135 kg CO₂	80 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: FlixBus 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 Waco, TX to Laredo, TX with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.