Drive or Fly: Emeryville, CA to Fontana, 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

7h 46m

Distance

417.8 mi

Total Cost

$114

CO2

169 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$79

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 13m

45m in the air

Air Distance

374 mi

Total Cost

$190

CO2

95 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Emeryville, CA → OAK 13m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 45m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ONT → Fontana, CA 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Emeryville, CA OAK — Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport 8 mi, ~13m drive

Fontana, CA ONT — Ontario International Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

99.2%

Cancellation

0.8%

+ Saves about 4h 33m 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 46m	3h 13m
Total cost (1 person)	$114	$190
Carbon footprint	169 kg CO₂	95 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 Jul 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

417.8 mi 7h 46m

via I 5, I 580, I 5 Truck

Alternative (+82 min)

462.5 mi 9h 8m

via US 101, US 101; CA 156, I 880

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