Drive or Fly: Anaheim, CA to San Rafael, 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 48m

Distance

417.3 mi

Total Cost

$133

CO2

169 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 39m

46m in the air

Air Distance

385 mi

Total Cost

$190

CO2

98 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Anaheim, CA → SNA 17m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 46m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

OAK → San Rafael, CA 36m

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 Rafael, CA OAK — Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 4h 9m 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

10h 38m

9h 45m on road

Total Cost

$42

CO2

22 kg

Route

FlixBus N2003

Door-to-Door Timeline

Anaheim, CA → Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ANA6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 585m

Arrival 10m

El Cerrito del Norte BART (0DN) → San Rafael, CA 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $42) $42

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

Stations

From ANA6 — Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center 3 mi, ~10m drive

To 0DN — El Cerrito del Norte BART 12 mi, ~18m 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	7h 48m	3h 39m	10h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$133	$190	$42
Carbon footprint	169 kg CO₂	98 kg CO₂	22 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 Sep 11, 2026.

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