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Drive or Fly: Chula Vista, CA to Citrus Heights, 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

9h 52m

Distance

527.2 mi

Total Cost

$146

CO2

213 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$111
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
Driver fatigue on longer stretches
Wear and tear on vehicle
Fuel price fluctuations
Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 36m

58m in the air

Air Distance

481 mi

Total Cost

$194

CO2

123 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Chula Vista, CA → SAN 13m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 58m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
SMF → Citrus Heights, CA 25m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $139) $139
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Chula Vista, CA SAN — San Diego International Airport 9 mi, ~13m drive
Citrus Heights, CA SMF — Sacramento International Airport 17 mi, ~25m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 6h 16m 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 9h 52m 3h 36m
Total cost (1 person) $146 $194
Carbon footprint 213 kg CO2 123 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 Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest
527.2 mi 9h 52m

via I 5, I 5 Truck, I 805

Alternative (+56 min)
566.1 mi 10h 48m

via CA 99, CA 58, I 215

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Chula Vista, CA to Citrus Heights, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.