Compare: Dallas→Houston (362 km) vs Dallas→Austin (293 km). Dallas → Austin wins by 69 km (19%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 7, 2026
362 km
225 miles · Flight: ~57 min · Drive: ~5h 53min
293 km
182 miles · Flight: ~52 min · Drive: ~4h 46min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 69 km (19%) · Flight time difference: ~5 min
Verdict
Dallas → Austin is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 69 km (19%) shorter, saves about 5 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 17 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Dallas → Houston only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Dallas → Austin is the shorter route at 293 km, which is 69 km (19%) shorter than Dallas → Houston. You would save approximately 5 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Dallas → Houston | Dallas → Austin |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 362 | 293 |
| Distance (miles) | 225 | 182 |
| Flight time | ~57 min | ~52 min |
| Driving time | ~5h 53min | ~4h 46min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~471 km | ~381 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 158° (SSE) | 198° (SSW) |
| Time-zone shift | None | -1h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~92 kg | ~75 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~81 kg | ~65 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$47 USD | ~$38 USD |
Flying from Dallas to Houston produces roughly 92 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Dallas → Austin flight emits about 75 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 17 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 1 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 81 kg and 65 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Dallas to Houston route covers 362 km (225 miles), staying within North America. Dallas (population: 1,343,573) is located in South, United States, while Houston (population: 2,320,268) is in South, United States.
The Dallas to Austin route covers 293 km (182 miles), remaining within North America. Dallas (population: 1,343,573) is in South, United States, and Austin (population: 978,908) is in South, United States.
Flying from Dallas to Houston takes approximately 57 min, while Dallas to Austin takes 52 min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 5h 53min for the first route and 4h 46min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Dallas, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Houston and Austin as a destination.
The 69 km difference between these routes is noticeable in both travel time and fuel or ticket costs.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 471 km and 381 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 90 km of driving.
Houston (United States) has a population of 2,320,268 and is located in the South region of North America. It's a significant city with good transport links and cultural offerings.
Austin (United States) has a population of 978,908 and is situated in South, North America. This destination offers a more intimate travel experience with unique local culture.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Houston (United States) — a city of 2,320,268 in the South region of North America. Despite being the longer of the two at 362 km, it makes sense when Houston itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 471 km of road and a fuel cost band around $47 USD. The initial bearing is 158° (SSE), so a great-circle flight leaves Dallas heading roughly SSE.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Austin (United States) — a city of 978,908 in the South region of North America. It is also the shorter of the two at 293 km, saving about 5 min of flying and around 17 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 381 km of road and a fuel cost in the $38 USD range. Departing Dallas, the great-circle bearing toward Austin is 198° (SSW).
Dallas (32.78°, -96.80°) and Houston (29.76°, -95.37°) sit in the same approximate time zone. Dallas (32.78°, -96.80°) and Austin (30.27°, -97.74°) have a -1-hour offset. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Austin is closer at 293 km, which is 69 km (19%) shorter.
362 km (225 miles). Flight: ~57 min.
293 km (182 miles). Flight: ~52 min.
Flying to Austin is faster at ~52 min, saving about 5 min compared to Houston.
All distances on SnapDistance are calculated using the Haversine formula, which determines the great-circle distance between two points on Earth's surface. This gives the shortest possible distance over the globe, which is the measurement used for aviation and navigation. Actual travel distances by road or rail are typically 20-40% longer due to terrain, borders, and infrastructure routing. Flight times assume 800 km/h cruising speed with 30 minutes for takeoff and landing. Driving estimates use 80 km/h average speed with a 30% road distance factor.
📍 Data: Coordinates from OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances calculated using the Haversine formula. Travel times are estimates only. Last verified: April 7, 2026.