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Drive or Fly: Long Beach, CA to Penn Valley, 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

8h 52m

Distance

471.3 mi

Total Cost

$134

CO2

190 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$99
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

49m in the air

Air Distance

410 mi

Total Cost

$191

CO2

105 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Long Beach, CA → LGB 10m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 49m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
SMF → Penn Valley, CA 61m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $136) $136
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Long Beach, CA LGB — Long Beach International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive
Penn Valley, CA SMF — Sacramento International Airport 41 mi, ~61m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 4h 52m 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 52m 4h
Total cost (1 person) $134 $191
Carbon footprint 190 kg CO2 105 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
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 Jun 3, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Long Beach, CA to Penn Valley, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.