Drive or Fly: Temple City, CA to Sacramento, 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 14m

Distance

392.5 mi

Total Cost

$109

CO2

159 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$74

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 26m

44m in the air

Air Distance

363 mi

Total Cost

$190

CO2

93 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Temple City, CA → BUR 28m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 44m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SMF → Sacramento, CA 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Temple City, CA BUR — Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport 18 mi, ~28m drive

Sacramento, CA SMF — Sacramento International Airport 9 mi, ~14m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

97.3%

Cancellation

2.7%

+ Saves about 3h 48m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	7h 14m	3h 26m
Total cost (1 person)	$109	$190
Carbon footprint	159 kg CO₂	93 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	97% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

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 Temple City, CA to Sacramento, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.