Drive or Fly: Palmdale, CA to Sacramento, 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

6h 58m

Distance

373.3 mi

Total Cost

$105

CO2

151 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$70

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 38m

40m in the air

Air Distance

334 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

85 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Palmdale, CA → BUR 44m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 40m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SMF → Sacramento, CA 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Palmdale, CA BUR — Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport 29 mi, ~44m drive

Sacramento, CA SMF — Sacramento International Airport 9 mi, ~14m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

97.3%

Cancellation

2.7%

+ Saves about 3h 20m 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

7h 35m on road

Total Cost

$38

CO2

22 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Palmdale, CA → Los Angeles (Laurel Canyon/Rinaldi - San Fernando) (0RN) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 455m

Arrival 10m

Sacramento Bus Station (SAC6) → Sacramento, CA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $38) $38

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

Stations

From 0RN — Los Angeles (Laurel Canyon/Rinaldi - San Fernando) 0 mi, ~30m drive

To SAC6 — Sacramento Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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 7 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	6h 58m	3h 38m	9h
Total cost (1 person)	$105	$188	$38
Carbon footprint	151 kg CO₂	85 kg CO₂	22 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	97% 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

373.3 mi 6h 58m

via I 5, CA 138, CA 14; CA 138

Shortest (+6 min)

371.6 mi 7h 4m

via CA 99, CA 58 BUS, CA 14

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