Drive or Fly: Marina del Rey, CA to San Francisco, CA?
Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.
Driving wins
MediumShort enough to drive comfortably in a day. Airport overhead makes flying slower door-to-door. Available flights require a connection, adding time and cost.
Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)
· · Fuel cost: $
Drive
Door to Door
7h 13m
Distance
384.9 mi
Total Cost
$108
CO2
155 kg
Cost Breakdown
Fly
Door to Door
3h 8m
41m in the air
Air Distance
344 mi
Total Cost
$189
CO2
88 kg
Door-to-Door Timeline
Cost Breakdown
Airports
Flight Data
Service
Connecting only
On-Time
99.2%
Cancellation
0.8%
At a Glance
| Drive | Fly | |
|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door time | 7h 13m | 3h 8m |
| Total cost (1 person) | $108 | $189 |
| Carbon footprint | 155 kg CO2 | 88 kg CO2 |
| Flexibility | High | Low |
| Luggage | Unlimited | Restricted |
| Reliability | Weather dependent | 99% 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 580, I 5 Truck
via US 101, CA 154, I 405
Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Marina del Rey, CA to San Francisco, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.