Drive or Fly: San Dimas, CA to Riverside, 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 ONT–SBD. At 29 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

43m

Distance

29.7 mi

Total Cost

$42

CO2

12 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$7

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

2h 41m

3m in the air

Air Distance

26 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

7 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

San Dimas, CA → ONT 18m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SBD → Riverside, CA 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

San Dimas, CA ONT — Ontario International Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

Riverside, CA SBD — San Bernardino International Airport 14 mi, ~20m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ONT and SBD. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 55m

1h 10m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

FlixBus 2055

Door-to-Door Timeline

San Dimas, CA → Montclair (UMC) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 70m

Arrival 10m

Riverside (Parking Lot 30 - University of California, Riverside) (UCR) → Riverside, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $2) $2

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

Stations

From UMC — Montclair 6 mi, ~10m drive

To UCR — Riverside (Parking Lot 30 - University of California, Riverside) 4 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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 6 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	43m	2h 41m	1h 55m
Total cost (1 person)	$42	$121	$2
Carbon footprint	12 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂	1 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 Apr 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

29.7 mi 43m

via Van Buren Boulevard, I 10, I 10 EXPR

Alternative (+1 min)

31.1 mi 44m

via CA 60, Van Buren Boulevard, Central Avenue

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