Drive or Fly: Irvine, CA to Susanville, CA?

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

Driving wins

Medium

No direct flights for SNA–RNO. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

11h 51m

Distance

614.9 mi

Total Cost

$316

CO2

248 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$136

Hotel (1 room, 1 night) $110

Meals (1 pax, 2 days) $70

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

− Requires 2 days of driving

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

5h 7m

59m in the air

Air Distance

492 mi

Total Cost

$195

CO2

125 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Irvine, CA → SNA 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 59m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RNO → Susanville, CA 118m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $140) $140

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Irvine, CA SNA — John Wayne Orange County International Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

Susanville, CA RNO — Reno Tahoe International Airport 79 mi, ~118m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SNA and RNO. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 6h 44m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	11h 51m	5h 7m
Total cost (1 person)	$316	$195
Carbon footprint	248 kg CO₂	125 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

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 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

614.9 mi 11h 50m

via I 5, CA 32, CA 70

Shortest (+0 min)

579.9 mi 11h 51m

via US 395, US 395; US 6 Hist, I 580; US 395

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