Drive or Fly: Irvine, CA to Pacifica, CA?
Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.
Driving wins
MediumDriving is significantly cheaper and the distance is manageable in one day.
Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)
· · Fuel cost: $
Drive
Door to Door
8h 7m
Distance
426.8 mi
Total Cost
$116
CO2
172 kg
Cost Breakdown
Fly
Door to Door
3h 5m
45m in the air
Air Distance
378 mi
Total Cost
$190
CO2
96 kg
Door-to-Door Timeline
Cost Breakdown
Airports
Flight Data
Service
Connecting only
On-Time
99.4%
Cancellation
0.6%
At a Glance
| Drive | Fly | |
|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door time | 8h 7m | 3h 5m |
| Total cost (1 person) | $116 | $190 |
| Carbon footprint | 172 kg CO2 | 96 kg CO2 |
| Flexibility | High | Low |
| Luggage | Unlimited | Restricted |
| Reliability | Weather dependent | 99% on-time |
Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Jul 19, 2026.
Route Options
2 different routes between these cities.
via I 5, US 101, I 5 Truck
via US 101, I 5, CA 46
Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Irvine, CA to Pacifica, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.