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Drive or Fly: San Jose, CA to Villa Park, 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 6m

Distance

374.7 mi

Total Cost

$106

CO2

151 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$71
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 5m

40m in the air

Air Distance

334 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

85 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

San Jose, CA → SJC 10m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 40m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
SNA → Villa Park, CA 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

San Jose, CA SJC — Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive
Villa Park, CA SNA — John Wayne Orange County International Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.7%

Cancellation

1.3%

+ Saves about 4h 1m 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

10h 25m

9h on road

Total Cost

$37

CO2

22 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

San Jose, CA → San Jose Diridon Station (SJO6) 30m
Boarding 15m
Bus ride 540m
Arrival 10m
Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ANA6) → Villa Park, CA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $37) $37

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

Stations

From SJO6 — San Jose Diridon Station 0 mi, ~30m drive
To ANA6 — Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~9/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 9 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 7h 6m 3h 5m 10h 25m
Total cost (1 person) $106 $188 $37
Carbon footprint 151 kg CO2 85 kg CO2 22 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
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.

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