Texas Getting there & around

Getting around

Given the distances, traveling by car is all but necessary in Texas – make sure you opt for unlimited rental mileage. To avoid one-way drop-off fees, you could catch a cheap inter-Texas flight between cities, where it’s easy to rent a car. Cut-rate carrier Southwest Airlines (800-435-9792; www.iflyswa.com) serves Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Midland-Odessa, Lubbock, Corpus Christi and Harlingen (South Padre Island). In-Texas hops can be as little as $39 to $99 one way if you book ahead. Houston-based Continental and Dallas-based American Airlines often match Southwest’s sales.

Greyhound (800-231-2222; www.greyhound.com) and its partner Kerrville Bus Lines (800-231-2222; www.iridekbc.com) serve all but the tiniest towns, though it may take several transfers and twice as long as by car.

Regional driving distances:

Austin to San Antonio 78 miles

San Antonio to Houston 196 miles

Houston to Dallas 237 miles

Dallas to El Paso 622 miles

Brownsville to Houston 350 miles