Apples to oranges

$200+ depending on a ding fare
$100 for minimum 3 day rental in ELP

lodging is required regardless of travel mode decided
fuel is avoidable

1 week rental is $200 and allows the freedom to go wherever. With the addition of the usaa rate and a $30 coupon gives me the rental for under $180 including taxes.

This is a leisure trip so the flight from SGF is not even close to an option.
MCI would have been but now that is is a week away, the fares have started there steady climb.