Drive or Fly: La Habra, 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

7h 26m

Distance

396.2 mi

Total Cost

$110

CO2

160 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$75

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 37m

44m in the air

Air Distance

366 mi

Total Cost

$190

CO2

93 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

La Habra, CA → LGB 21m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 44m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SMF → Laguna, CA 32m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

La Habra, CA LGB — Long Beach International Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

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

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 3h 49m 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

13h 30m

12h 5m on road

Total Cost

$43

CO2

23 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 725m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $43) $43

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

Stations

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

To SAC6 — Sacramento Bus 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 26m	3h 37m	13h 30m
Total cost (1 person)	$110	$190	$43
Carbon footprint	160 kg CO₂	93 kg CO₂	23 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	100% 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 La Habra, CA to Laguna, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.