Drive or Fly: Fremont, CA to Thousand Oaks, CA?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for SJC–BUR. At 365 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 53m

Distance

365 mi

Total Cost

$116

CO2

147 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$81

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

35m in the air

Air Distance

293 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

75 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fremont, CA → SJC 20m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 35m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BUR → Thousand Oaks, CA 41m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Fremont, CA SJC — Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport 13 mi, ~20m drive

Thousand Oaks, CA BUR — Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport 28 mi, ~41m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SJC and BUR. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 17m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

6h 35m on road

Total Cost

$34

CO2

21 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fremont, CA → Hayward Bus Station (UHW) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 395m

Arrival 10m

Los Angeles (Laurel Canyon/Rinaldi - San Fernando) (0RN) → Thousand Oaks, CA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $34) $34

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

Stations

From UHW — Hayward Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To 0RN — Los Angeles (Laurel Canyon/Rinaldi - San Fernando) 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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 7 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	6h 53m	3h 36m	8h
Total cost (1 person)	$116	$187	$34
Carbon footprint	147 kg CO₂	75 kg CO₂	21 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

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 Apr 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

365 mi 6h 53m

via I 5, I 5 Truck, US 101

Shortest (+3 min)

350.5 mi 6h 56m

via US 101, US 101; CA 156, CA 154

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