Drive or Fly: Waco, TX to Lubbock, 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–LBB. At 353 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 27m

Distance

353.7 mi

Total Cost

$113

CO2

143 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$78

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

79 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Waco, TX → ACT 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 37m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LBB → Lubbock, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Lubbock, TX LBB — Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 30m 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	6h 27m	2h 57m
Total cost (1 person)	$113	$187
Carbon footprint	143 kg CO₂	79 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

353.7 mi 6h 27m

via US 84, TX 153, US 67; US 84; US 377

Alternative (+54 min)

409.2 mi 7h 22m

via US 82; TX 114, US 81; US 287, I 35W

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