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Drive or Fly: Thermalito, CA to Long Beach, CA?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Could go either way

Medium

This distance is a toss-up. Drive if you want flexibility and lower cost, fly if you value time. Connecting flights add time.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

8h 53m

Distance

475.6 mi

Total Cost

$151

CO2

192 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$116
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
− Driver fatigue on longer stretches
− Wear and tear on vehicle
− Fuel price fluctuations
Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 28m

53m in the air

Air Distance

439 mi

Total Cost

$193

CO2

112 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Thermalito, CA → SMF 85m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 53m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
LGB → Long Beach, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $138) $138
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Thermalito, CA SMF — Sacramento International Airport 56 mi, ~85m drive
Long Beach, CA LGB — Long Beach International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 4h 25m 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 8h 53m 4h 28m
Total cost (1 person) $151 $193
Carbon footprint 192 kg CO2 112 kg CO2
Flexibility High Low
Luggage Unlimited Restricted
Reliability Weather dependent 100% 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 Oct 19, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Thermalito, CA to Long Beach, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.