Drive or Fly: Long Beach, CA to Susanville, 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

11h 30m

Distance

594.5 mi

Total Cost

$292

CO2

240 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$112

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

5h 5m

57m in the air

Air Distance

479 mi

Total Cost

$194

CO2

122 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Long Beach, CA → LGB 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 57m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RNO → Susanville, CA 118m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $139) $139

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Long Beach, CA LGB — Long Beach International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Susanville, CA RNO — Reno Tahoe International Airport 79 mi, ~118m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 6h 25m 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	11h 30m	5h 5m
Total cost (1 person)	$292	$194
Carbon footprint	240 kg CO₂	122 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 Jul 19, 2026.

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