Drive or Fly: Richmond, 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

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for CCR–SAN. At 502 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

9h 28m

Distance

502.3 mi

Total Cost

$157

CO2

203 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$122

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 30m

56m in the air

Air Distance

464 mi

Total Cost

$194

CO2

118 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Richmond, CA → CCR 24m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 56m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SAN → San Diego, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $139) $139

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Richmond, CA CCR — Buchanan Field 16 mi, ~24m drive

San Diego, CA SAN — San Diego International Airport 2 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CCR and SAN. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 5h 58m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

13h

11h 35m on road

Total Cost

$51

CO2

29 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Richmond, CA → El Cerrito del Norte BART (0DN) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 695m

Arrival 10m

San Diego (Downtown/Seaport Village) (USP) → San Diego, CA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $51) $51

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

Stations

From 0DN — El Cerrito del Norte BART 0 mi, ~30m drive

To USP — San Diego (Downtown/Seaport Village) 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~10/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 10 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	9h 28m	3h 30m	13h
Total cost (1 person)	$157	$194	$51
Carbon footprint	203 kg CO₂	118 kg CO₂	29 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

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 Oct 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

502.3 mi 9h 27m

via I 5, I 5 Truck, I 580

Alternative (+56 min)

534.2 mi 10h 23m

via I 5, US 101; CA 156, I 5 Truck

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