Drive or Fly: Whitney, TX to Montopolis, 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–AUS. At 148 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 40m

Distance

148.5 mi

Total Cost

$68

CO2

60 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$33

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

14m in the air

Air Distance

120 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

31 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Whitney, TX → ACT 36m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 14m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AUS → Montopolis, TX 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Whitney, TX ACT — Waco Regional Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

Montopolis, TX AUS — Austin Bergstrom International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ACT and AUS. 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

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

5h 35m

3h 55m on rail

Total Cost

$29

CO2

9 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Whitney, TX → Cleburne Amtrak Station 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 235m

Arrival 10m

Austin → Montopolis, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $29) $29

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

Stations

From Cleburne Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Austin 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~10/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 10 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 35m

4h 10m on road

Total Cost

$14

CO2

9 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Whitney, TX → Hillsboro (HLL6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 250m

Arrival 10m

Austin Eastside Bus Plaza (AUS6) → Montopolis, TX 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $14) $14

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

Stations

From HLL6 — Hillsboro 0 mi, ~30m drive

To AUS6 — Austin Eastside Bus Plaza 0 mi, ~30m 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 40m	3h	5h 35m	5h 35m
Total cost (1 person)	$68	$125	$29	$14
Carbon footprint	60 kg CO₂	31 kg CO₂	9 kg CO₂	9 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, 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

148.5 mi 2h 39m

via I 35, I 35; US 77, TX 22

Shortest (+11 min)

132.9 mi 2h 51m

via I 35, TX 317, FM 56

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