Drive or Fly: Lone Pine, CA to Bakersfield, CA?

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

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for BIH–BFL. At 168 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 19m

Distance

168.9 mi

Total Cost

$72

CO2

68 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$37

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 45m

12m in the air

Air Distance

101 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

26 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lone Pine, CA → BIH 83m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BFL → Bakersfield, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Lone Pine, CA BIH — Eastern Sierra Regional Airport 56 mi, ~83m drive

Bakersfield, CA BFL — Meadows Field 5 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BIH and BFL. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 5m

1h 40m on road

Total Cost

CO2

10 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lone Pine, CA → Visalia Transit Station (VIS6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 100m

Arrival 10m

Bakersfield Train Station (BKF6) → Bakersfield, CA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $7) $7

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

Stations

From VIS6 — Visalia Transit Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To BKF6 — Bakersfield Train 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	3h 19m	3h 45m	3h 5m
Total cost (1 person)	$72	$124	$7
Carbon footprint	68 kg CO₂	26 kg CO₂	10 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

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 Apr 21, 2026.

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