Drive or Fly: Sacramento, CA to Lakewood, CA?

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

Driving wins

Medium

Driving is significantly cheaper and the distance is manageable in one day.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 29m

Distance

404 mi

Total Cost

$120

CO2

163 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$85

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 9m

45m in the air

Air Distance

376 mi

Total Cost

$190

CO2

96 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sacramento, CA → SMF 14m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 45m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LGB → Lakewood, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Lakewood, CA LGB — Long Beach International Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 4h 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	7h 29m	3h 9m
Total cost (1 person)	$120	$190
Carbon footprint	163 kg CO₂	96 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	100% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

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 Jun 3, 2026.

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