Drive or Fly: Berkeley, CA to Anaheim, CA?

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

Driving wins

Medium

Driving is significantly cheaper and the distance is manageable in one day.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 32m

Distance

400.1 mi

Total Cost

$129

CO2

162 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$94

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 17m

44m in the air

Air Distance

371 mi

Total Cost

$190

CO2

94 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Berkeley, CA → OAK 16m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 44m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SNA → Anaheim, CA 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Berkeley, CA OAK — Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport 11 mi, ~16m drive

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

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

99.0%

Cancellation

1.0%

+ Saves about 4h 15m 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 20m

9h 35m on road

Total Cost

$41

CO2

22 kg

Route

FlixBus N2003

Door-to-Door Timeline

Berkeley, CA → Berkeley (Crescent Lawn - University of California, Berkeley) (UCB) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 575m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $41) $41

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

Stations

From UCB — Berkeley (Crescent Lawn - University of California, Berkeley) 0 mi, ~10m drive

To ANA6 — Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center 3 mi, ~10m 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 32m	3h 17m	10h 20m
Total cost (1 person)	$129	$190	$41
Carbon footprint	162 kg CO₂	94 kg CO₂	22 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	99% 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

400.1 mi 7h 31m

via I 5, I 5 Truck, I 580

Alternative (+20 min)

409.7 mi 7h 52m

via I 5, I 5 Truck, CA 152

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