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Drive or Fly: Berkeley, CA to Fontana, 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 52m

Distance

419.8 mi

Total Cost

$134

CO2

170 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$99
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 16m

45m in the air

Air Distance

376 mi

Total Cost

$190

CO2

96 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Berkeley, CA → OAK 16m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 45m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
ONT → Fontana, CA 15m

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
Fontana, CA ONT — Ontario International Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 4h 36m 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

At a Glance

Drive Fly
Door-to-door time 7h 52m 3h 16m
Total cost (1 person) $134 $190
Carbon footprint 170 kg CO2 96 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
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
419.8 mi 7h 52m

via I 5, I 580, I 5 Truck

Alternative (+81 min)
465.1 mi 9h 13m

via US 101, US 101; CA 156, I 880

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