Dallas Love Field vs. DFW: $81 Apart. Only 18 Miles Between Them.

Texas has five airports in the national top 100 for passenger volume, and the spread between the most and least affordable is more than $100 per ticket. Only In Your State analyzed recently released Bureau of Transportation Statistics data, and the findings reveal dramatically different fare environments depending on which Texas airport you use.

Dallas Love Field (DAL) ranked 18th most affordable nationally in 2025, with an average domestic fare of $340.29—$46.71 below the national average of $387. For Dallas-area travelers with access to Love Field, it's one of the best departure values in the South.

The Dallas Airport Gap: $81 Per Ticket, 18 Miles Apart

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) averaged $421.77 in 2025, ranking 76th nationally—$34.77 above the national average and $81.48 more per ticket than Love Field. The two airports are approximately 18 miles apart by road.

The difference comes down to structure: Love Field is Southwest Airlines' home hub, operating as a point-to-point airport with aggressive fare competition. DFW is one of American Airlines' primary hubs, where connecting traffic and hub dynamics support higher pricing. Both airports serve the same metro, but the fare environments are remarkably different.

At $81.48 per ticket, a family of four flying out of Love Field instead of DFW saves roughly $326 on airfare alone—before any other travel expenses.

Houston's Two Airports

Houston follows a similar pattern, though less dramatic. William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) averaged $359.07, ranking 27th nationally—$27.93 below the national average. George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) averaged $424.21, ranking 81st—$37.21 above the national average.

The Houston gap is $65.14 per ticket. Hobby is a Southwest-dominated point-to-point airport; Intercontinental is a United Airlines hub. The same structural dynamic that explains Dallas plays out in Houston.

Choosing the Right Airport for Your Journey

Beyond Dallas and Houston, travelers across the Lone Star State often face similar trade-offs between secondary regional hubs and major legacy international gateways. While smaller airports like Love Field and Hobby offer leaner terminal layouts, quicker security lines, and aggressive pricing from low-cost carriers, larger hubs like DFW and IAH provide extensive nonstop international routing and legacy carrier loyalty perks. Factoring in total travel costs—such as parking rates, rideshare distances, and potential layovers—can help dictate whether the upfront ticket savings offset additional ground logistics.

Furthermore, seasonal fluctuations and advance booking windows play a major role in how these fare gaps perform throughout the year. While Southwest's fixed-tier fare structures keep average prices lower at Love Field, peak holiday demand can temporarily narrow the gap between secondary airports and primary legacy hubs. For Texas commuters and holiday travelers alike, monitoring fare trends across both regional options in a metropolitan area remains the single most effective strategy for securing the best overall value.

San Antonio and the Full Texas Picture

San Antonio International Airport (SAT) averaged $412.25, ranking 68th nationally—$25.25 above the national average. It's the most expensive of Texas's airports after the two major hub options at DFW and IAH.

El Paso International (ELP) averaged $394.71, ranking 53rd—essentially at the national average and a reasonable departure point for far west Texas.

This data reflects 2025 averages from the Department of Transportation, released in May 2026. The clearest takeaway for Texas travelers: if you're in the Dallas metro, Love Field's 18th national ranking is one of the state's most underutilized advantages. Knowing how to find cheap flights at any Texas airport can further reduce what you pay.

To get the most from your next departure, explore how to find cheap flights and unexpected ways to cut travel costs to help stretch your budget further.

To see how every major airport in the country compares—plus the full methodology behind the data—explore the complete U.S. Airport Cost Rankings for 2026.