Drive or Fly: Westway, TX to Austin, 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 ELP–AUS. At 593 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

10h 4m

Distance

593.6 mi

Total Cost

$312

CO2

240 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$132

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

3h 38m

1h 4m in the air

Air Distance

535 mi

Total Cost

$196

CO2

137 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Westway, TX → ELP 24m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 64m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AUS → Austin, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $141) $141

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Westway, TX ELP — El Paso International Airport 16 mi, ~24m drive

Austin, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ELP and AUS. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 6h 26m 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

17h 43m

16h 31m on rail

Total Cost

$105

CO2

31 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Westway, TX → El Paso 22m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 991m

Arrival 10m

Austin → Austin, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $105) $105

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

Stations

From El Paso 15 mi, ~22m drive

To Austin 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 4 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	10h 4m	3h 38m	17h 43m
Total cost (1 person)	$312	$196	$105
Carbon footprint	240 kg CO₂	137 kg CO₂	31 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 13, 2026.

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