Drive or Fly: Elk Grove, CA to Long Beach, 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 24m

Distance

396.2 mi

Total Cost

$133

CO2

160 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 29m

44m in the air

Air Distance

367 mi

Total Cost

$190

CO2

93 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elk Grove, CA → SMF 35m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 44m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LGB → Long Beach, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Long Beach, CA LGB — Long Beach International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

99.3%

Cancellation

0.7%

+ Saves about 3h 55m 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 24m	3h 29m
Total cost (1 person)	$133	$190
Carbon footprint	160 kg CO₂	93 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

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 Long Beach, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.