Drive or Fly: Sacramento, CA to Sierra Madre, 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 12m

Distance

391 mi

Total Cost

$117

CO2

158 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$82

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 24m

43m in the air

Air Distance

360 mi

Total Cost

$189

CO2

92 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sacramento, CA → SMF 14m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 43m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BUR → Sierra Madre, CA 27m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $134) $134

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Sierra Madre, CA BUR — Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport 18 mi, ~27m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

97.3%

Cancellation

2.8%

+ Saves about 3h 48m 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 12m	3h 24m
Total cost (1 person)	$117	$189
Carbon footprint	158 kg CO₂	92 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

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 Sierra Madre, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.