Drive or Fly: Anaheim, CA to San Bruno, CA?

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

Could go either way

Medium

This distance is a toss-up. Drive if you want flexibility and lower cost, fly if you value time. Connecting flights add time.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 36m

Distance

401.7 mi

Total Cost

$133

CO2

162 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$98

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 11m

44m in the air

Air Distance

364 mi

Total Cost

$190

CO2

93 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Anaheim, CA → SNA 17m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 44m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SFO → San Bruno, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Anaheim, CA SNA — John Wayne Orange County International Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive

San Bruno, CA SFO — San Francisco International Airport 2 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.3%

Cancellation

1.7%

+ Saves about 4h 25m 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 40m

8h 15m on road

Total Cost

$41

CO2

23 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Anaheim, CA → Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ANA6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 495m

Arrival 10m

San Francisco (5th/Townsend) (USF) → San Bruno, CA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $41) $41

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

Stations

From ANA6 — Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center 0 mi, ~30m drive

To USF — San Francisco (5th/Townsend) 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~10/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 10 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	7h 36m	3h 11m	9h 40m
Total cost (1 person)	$133	$190	$41
Carbon footprint	162 kg CO₂	93 kg CO₂	23 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	98% 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 Oct 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

401.7 mi 7h 36m

via I 5, US 101, I 5 Truck

Alternative (+35 min)

423.9 mi 8h 11m

via US 101, I 5, CA 46

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