Drive or Fly: Los Altos, CA to Santa Ana, CA?

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

Driving wins

Medium

Short enough to drive comfortably in a day. Airport overhead makes flying slower door-to-door. Available flights require a connection, adding time and cost.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 20m

Distance

384.8 mi

Total Cost

$108

CO2

155 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$73

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 7m

42m in the air

Air Distance

347 mi

Total Cost

$189

CO2

88 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Los Altos, CA → SJC 15m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 42m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SNA → Santa Ana, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $134) $134

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Los Altos, CA SJC — Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

Santa Ana, CA SNA — John Wayne Orange County International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

99.2%

Cancellation

0.9%

+ Saves about 4h 13m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

10h 18m

9h 25m on road

Total Cost

$37

CO2

19 kg

Route

Greyhound US0831

Door-to-Door Timeline

Los Altos, CA → San Jose Diridon Station (SJO6) 18m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 565m

Arrival 10m

Santa Ana Bus Stop (SAN6) → Santa Ana, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $37) $37

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

Stations

From SJO6 — San Jose Diridon Station 12 mi, ~18m drive

To SAN6 — Santa Ana Bus Stop 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~9/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 9 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	7h 20m	3h 7m	10h 18m
Total cost (1 person)	$108	$189	$37
Carbon footprint	155 kg CO₂	88 kg CO₂	19 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	99% on-time

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 Jul 21, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Los Altos, CA to Santa Ana, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.