Drive or Fly: San Mateo, CA to Anaheim, 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 30m

Distance

394.8 mi

Total Cost

$110

CO2

159 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$75

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 10m

43m in the air

Air Distance

357 mi

Total Cost

$189

CO2

91 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

San Mateo, CA → SFO 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 43m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SNA → Anaheim, CA 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $134) $134

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

San Mateo, CA SFO — San Francisco International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Anaheim, CA SNA — John Wayne Orange County International Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

99.4%

Cancellation

0.6%

+ Saves about 4h 20m 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 58m

10h on road

Total Cost

$39

CO2

21 kg

Route

Greyhound US0831

Door-to-Door Timeline

San Mateo, CA → Hayward Bus Station (UHW) 23m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 600m

Arrival 10m

Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ANA6) → Anaheim, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $39) $39

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

Stations

From UHW — Hayward Bus Station 15 mi, ~23m drive

To ANA6 — Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center 3 mi, ~10m 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 30m	3h 10m	10h 58m
Total cost (1 person)	$110	$189	$39
Carbon footprint	159 kg CO₂	91 kg CO₂	21 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 20, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

394.8 mi 7h 29m

via I 5, I 5 Truck, US 101

Alternative (+34 min)

417.1 mi 8h 4m

via US 101; CA 156, I 5 Truck, I 5

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