Drive or Fly: Los Altos, CA to San Diego, CA?
Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.
Driving wins
MediumDriving is significantly cheaper and the distance is manageable in one day.
Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)
· · Fuel cost: $
Drive
Door to Door
9h 6m
Distance
473.6 mi
Total Cost
$124
CO2
191 kg
Cost Breakdown
Fly
Door to Door
3h 16m
51m in the air
Air Distance
427 mi
Total Cost
$192
CO2
109 kg
Door-to-Door Timeline
Cost Breakdown
Airports
Flight Data
Service
Connecting only
On-Time
98.3%
Cancellation
1.7%
At a Glance
| Drive | Fly | |
|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door time | 9h 6m | 3h 16m |
| Total cost (1 person) | $124 | $192 |
| Carbon footprint | 191 kg CO2 | 109 kg CO2 |
| Flexibility | High | Low |
| Luggage | Unlimited | Restricted |
| Reliability | Weather dependent | 98% on-time |
Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Jul 21, 2026.
Route Options
2 different routes between these cities.
via I 5, I 5 Truck, CA 152
via I 5, I 15, I 5 Truck
Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Los Altos, CA to San Diego, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.