Drive or Fly: San Anselmo, 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

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

9h 44m

Distance

514 mi

Total Cost

$132

CO2

208 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$97

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 45m

57m in the air

Air Distance

474 mi

Total Cost

$194

CO2

121 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

San Anselmo, CA → OAK 38m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 57m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SAN → San Diego, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $139) $139

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

San Anselmo, CA OAK — Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport 26 mi, ~38m drive

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

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

99.1%

Cancellation

0.9%

+ Saves about 5h 59m 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	9h 44m	3h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$132	$194
Carbon footprint	208 kg CO₂	121 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	99% 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 Jul 21, 2026.

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