Drive or Fly: Bodega Bay, CA to San Diego, 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

10h 44m

Distance

560.3 mi

Total Cost

$286

CO2

226 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$106

Hotel (1 room, 1 night) $110

Meals (1 pax, 2 days) $70

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

− Requires 2 days of driving

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 37m

1h 1m in the air

Air Distance

510 mi

Total Cost

$195

CO2

130 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bodega Bay, CA → STS 26m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 61m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SAN → San Diego, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $140) $140

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Bodega Bay, CA STS — Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport 18 mi, ~26m drive

San Diego, CA SAN — San Diego International Airport 2 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 7h 7m 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	10h 44m	3h 37m
Total cost (1 person)	$286	$195
Carbon footprint	226 kg CO₂	130 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 Jul 20, 2026.

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