Drive or Fly: Elk Grove, 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

Short enough to drive comfortably in a day. Airport overhead makes flying slower door-to-door. Available flights require a connection, adding time and cost.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 27m

Distance

398.1 mi

Total Cost

$133

CO2

161 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$98

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

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 36m

44m in the air

Air Distance

370 mi

Total Cost

$190

CO2

94 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elk Grove, CA → SMF 35m

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

Elk Grove, CA SMF — Sacramento International Airport 23 mi, ~35m drive

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

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

99.1%

Cancellation

0.9%

+ Saves about 3h 51m 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

13h 30m

12h 5m on road

Total Cost

$43

CO2

23 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elk Grove, CA → Sacramento Bus Station (SAC6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 725m

Arrival 10m

Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ANA6) → Anaheim, CA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $43) $43

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

Stations

From SAC6 — Sacramento Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To ANA6 — Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~9/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 9 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 27m	3h 36m	13h 30m
Total cost (1 person)	$133	$190	$43
Carbon footprint	161 kg CO₂	94 kg CO₂	23 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 Oct 23, 2026.

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