Drive or Fly: Fullerton, CA to Oakland, 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 LGB–OAK. At 395 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 21m

Distance

395.9 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

160 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$87

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 14m

44m in the air

Air Distance

365 mi

Total Cost

$190

CO2

93 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fullerton, CA → LGB 20m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 44m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

OAK → Oakland, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Fullerton, CA LGB — Long Beach International Airport 13 mi, ~20m drive

Oakland, CA OAK — San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between LGB and OAK. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 4h 7m 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

10h 20m

8h 55m on road

Total Cost

$41

CO2

23 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 535m

Arrival 10m

Oakland (West Oakland Bart Station) (OAK) → Oakland, CA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $41) $41

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

Stations

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

To OAK — Oakland (West Oakland Bart Station) 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	7h 21m	3h 14m	10h 20m
Total cost (1 person)	$122	$190	$41
Carbon footprint	160 kg CO₂	93 kg CO₂	23 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.

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