Drive or Fly: Santa Clara, 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 3m

Distance

370.6 mi

Total Cost

$105

CO2

150 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$70

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 7m

40m in the air

Air Distance

333 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

85 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Santa Clara, CA → SJC 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 40m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SNA → Anaheim, CA 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Santa Clara, CA SJC — Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport 2 mi, ~10m drive

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

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

99.2%

Cancellation

0.9%

+ Saves about 3h 56m 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

21 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Santa Clara, CA → San Jose Diridon Station (SJO6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 540m

Arrival 10m

Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ANA6) → Anaheim, 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

~8/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 8 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 3m	3h 7m	10h 25m
Total cost (1 person)	$105	$188	$37
Carbon footprint	150 kg CO₂	85 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 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

370.6 mi 7h 3m

via I 5, I 5 Truck, CA 152

Alternative (+34 min)

392.8 mi 7h 37m

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

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