Drive or Fly: Lincoln, CA to Chula Vista, CA?

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

Could go either way

Medium

This distance is a toss-up. Drive if you want flexibility and lower cost, fly if you value time. Connecting flights add time.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

10h 11m

Distance

541.6 mi

Total Cost

$312

CO2

219 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$132

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

3h 44m

59m in the air

Air Distance

492 mi

Total Cost

$195

CO2

125 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lincoln, CA → SMF 32m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 59m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SAN → Chula Vista, CA 13m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $140) $140

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Chula Vista, CA SAN — San Diego International Airport 9 mi, ~13m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

99.4%

Cancellation

0.6%

+ Saves about 6h 27m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	10h 11m	3h 44m
Total cost (1 person)	$312	$195
Carbon footprint	219 kg CO₂	125 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

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 Oct 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

541.6 mi 10h 11m

via I 5, I 5 Truck, I 805

Alternative (+53 min)

581.2 mi 11h 5m

via CA 99, South Sacramento Freeway, Bakersfield Tehachapi Highway

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