Drive or Fly: Chula Vista, CA to Dublin, 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

8h 54m

Distance

474.9 mi

Total Cost

$135

CO2

192 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$100

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 29m

53m in the air

Air Distance

444 mi

Total Cost

$193

CO2

113 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Chula Vista, CA → SAN 13m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 53m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

OAK → Dublin, CA 23m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $138) $138

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Chula Vista, CA SAN — San Diego International Airport 9 mi, ~13m drive

Dublin, CA OAK — San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport 16 mi, ~23m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 5h 25m 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	8h 54m	3h 29m
Total cost (1 person)	$135	$193
Carbon footprint	192 kg CO₂	113 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

474.9 mi 8h 53m

via I 5, I 5 Truck, I 580

Alternative (+67 min)

517 mi 10h 1m

via I 5, US 101, I 5 Truck

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