Drive or Fly: Glendale, CA to Laguna, 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

6h 49m

Distance

369.4 mi

Total Cost

$105

CO2

149 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$70

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 24m

41m in the air

Air Distance

344 mi

Total Cost

$189

CO2

88 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Glendale, CA → BUR 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 41m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SMF → Laguna, CA 32m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $134) $134

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Glendale, CA BUR — Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

Laguna, CA SMF — Sacramento International Airport 21 mi, ~32m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.7%

Cancellation

1.4%

+ Saves about 3h 25m 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

11h 15m

9h 50m on road

Total Cost

$39

CO2

21 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Glendale, CA → Glendale Bus Stop (GLN6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 590m

Arrival 10m

Sacramento Bus Station (SAC6) → Laguna, CA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $39) $39

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

Stations

From GLN6 — Glendale Bus Stop 0 mi, ~30m drive

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

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/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 8 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 49m	3h 24m	11h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$105	$189	$39
Carbon footprint	149 kg CO₂	88 kg CO₂	21 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 Jul 21, 2026.

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