Drive or Fly: San Jose, CA to Chula Vista, CA?
Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.
Driving wins
MediumDriving is significantly cheaper and the distance is manageable in one day.
Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)
· · Fuel cost: $
Drive
Door to Door
8h 58m
Distance
468.3 mi
Total Cost
$123
CO2
189 kg
Cost Breakdown
Fly
Door to Door
3h 14m
51m in the air
Air Distance
424 mi
Total Cost
$192
CO2
108 kg
Door-to-Door Timeline
Cost Breakdown
Airports
Flight Data
Service
Connecting only
On-Time
100.0%
At a Glance
| Drive | Fly | |
|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door time | 8h 58m | 3h 14m |
| Total cost (1 person) | $123 | $192 |
| Carbon footprint | 189 kg CO2 | 108 kg CO2 |
| Flexibility | High | Low |
| Luggage | Unlimited | Restricted |
| Reliability | Weather dependent | 100% on-time |
Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Jul 20, 2026.
Route Options
2 different routes between these cities.
via I 5, I 5 Truck, CA 152
via I 5, US 101; CA 156, I 5 Truck
Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from San Jose, CA to Chula Vista, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.