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Drive or Fly: Anaheim, CA to Los Gatos, CA?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

Short enough to drive comfortably in a day. Airport overhead makes flying slower door-to-door. Available flights require a connection, adding time and cost.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 58m

Distance

368.2 mi

Total Cost

$105

CO2

149 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$70
Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0
Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35
+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines
+ Comfortable one-day drive
+ Stop anywhere along the route
+ Have your own car at the destination
+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying
− Wear and tear on vehicle
− Fuel price fluctuations
Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 11m

39m in the air

Air Distance

327 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

83 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Anaheim, CA → SNA 17m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 39m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
SJC → Los Gatos, CA 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Anaheim, CA SNA — John Wayne Orange County International Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive
Los Gatos, CA SJC — Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

99.6%

Cancellation

0.4%

+ Saves about 3h 47m compared to driving
+ Less physical fatigue
+ Predictable arrival time
− Airport security and check-in overhead
− May need a rental car at destination
− Luggage fees and restrictions
− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

9h 5m

7h 40m on road

Total Cost

$37

CO2

21 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Anaheim, CA → Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ANA6) 30m
Boarding 15m
Bus ride 460m
Arrival 10m
San Jose Diridon Station (SJO6) → Los Gatos, CA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $37) $37

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From ANA6 — Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center 0 mi, ~30m drive
To SJO6 — San Jose Diridon Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/week

+ Usually the cheapest option
+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board
+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route
+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying
− Limited schedule — about 8 trips per week
− Travel time longer than driving
− Need transportation to/from station
− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

Drive Fly Bus
Door-to-door time 6h 58m 3h 11m 9h 5m
Total cost (1 person) $105 $188 $37
Carbon footprint 149 kg CO2 83 kg CO2 21 kg CO2
Flexibility High Low
Luggage Unlimited Restricted
Reliability Weather dependent 100% on-time
Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices
Flight data: Statistical estimate
Airports: OurAirports
Transit: FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated
Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Jul 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest
368.2 mi 6h 58m

via I 5, I 5 Truck, CA 152; CA33

Alternative (+34 min)
384 mi 7h 32m

via I 5, US 101, CA 46

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Anaheim, CA to Los Gatos, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.