traveling by airplane is the way to go if you don't have a lot of time and need to get a long distance. However, with so many medium-distance trips, you're better off driving. For example, when I used to live out west of Fort Worth Texas, it would take me 1 to 1.5 hours just to drive to DFW airport. Then you have to be there an hour or more early, then there are sometimes delays. Once you fry to your destination and get you bag, you still either have to get a taxi, shuttle or rent a car!
So for me to get from Weatherford, TX to Houston would be the exact same amount of time for driving vs. flying! But the airfare and rental car would usually set me back like $400 for just a two day trip! Driving would be a fraction of that.