Drive or Fly: Lakewood, 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

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 16m

Distance

390.8 mi

Total Cost

$109

CO2

158 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$74

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 3m

43m in the air

Air Distance

358 mi

Total Cost

$189

CO2

91 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lakewood, CA → LGB 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 43m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

OAK → Oakland, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $134) $134

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Lakewood, CA LGB — Long Beach International Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

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

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.4%

Cancellation

1.6%

+ Saves about 4h 13m 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 10m

9h 45m on road

Total Cost

$40

CO2

23 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lakewood, CA → Long Beach Bus Station (LBH6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 585m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $40) $40

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

Stations

From LBH6 — Long Beach Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To OAK — Oakland (West Oakland Bart 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	7h 16m	3h 3m	11h 10m
Total cost (1 person)	$109	$189	$40
Carbon footprint	158 kg CO₂	91 kg CO₂	23 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	98% 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 Lakewood, CA to Oakland, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.