Drive or Fly: San Francisco, CA to Ventura, 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

6h 58m

Distance

352.1 mi

Total Cost

$101

CO2

142 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$66

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 42m

36m in the air

Air Distance

298 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

76 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

San Francisco, CA → SFO 17m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 36m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SBA → Ventura, CA 49m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

San Francisco, CA SFO — San Francisco International Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive

Ventura, CA SBA — Santa Barbara Municipal Airport 33 mi, ~49m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

97.9%

Cancellation

2.1%

+ Saves about 3h 16m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

6h 35m on road

Total Cost

$30

CO2

20 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

San Francisco, CA → San Francisco (5th/Townsend) (USF) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 395m

Arrival 10m

Santa Barbara Bus Stop (SBR6) → Ventura, CA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $30) $30

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

Stations

From USF — San Francisco (5th/Townsend) 0 mi, ~30m drive

To SBR6 — Santa Barbara Bus Stop 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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 7 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	6h 58m	3h 42m	8h
Total cost (1 person)	$101	$187	$30
Carbon footprint	142 kg CO₂	76 kg CO₂	20 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	98% on-time

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 Jul 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

352.1 mi 6h 58m

via US 101, US 101; CA 156, CA 154

Alternative (+20 min)

388.8 mi 7h 18m

via I 5, I 580, I 5 Truck

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