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Drive or Fly: Loma Rica, CA to Anaheim, CA?

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

Driving wins

Medium

Driving is significantly cheaper and the distance is manageable in one day.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

8h 45m

Distance

465.6 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

188 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$88
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
− Driver fatigue on longer stretches
− Wear and tear on vehicle
− Fuel price fluctuations
Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 13m

51m in the air

Air Distance

425 mi

Total Cost

$192

CO2

108 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Loma Rica, CA → SMF 65m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 51m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
SNA → Anaheim, CA 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $137) $137
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Loma Rica, CA SMF — Sacramento International Airport 44 mi, ~65m drive
Anaheim, CA SNA — John Wayne Orange County International Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.5%

Cancellation

1.5%

+ Saves about 4h 32m 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 8h 45m 4h 13m
Total cost (1 person) $123 $192
Carbon footprint 188 kg CO2 108 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
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 19, 2026.

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