Drive or Fly: Torrance, CA to Irvine, CA?

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

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for HHR–SNA. At 35 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

44m

Distance

35.3 mi

Total Cost

$43

CO2

14 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$8

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

2h 24m

4m in the air

Air Distance

32 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

8 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Torrance, CA → HHR 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 4m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SNA → Irvine, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Torrance, CA HHR — Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Irvine, CA SNA — John Wayne Orange County International Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between HHR and SNA. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

35m on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Torrance, CA → Long Beach Bus Station (LBH6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 35m

Arrival 10m

Santa Ana Bus Stop (SAN6) → Irvine, CA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $2) $2

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

Stations

From LBH6 — Long Beach Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To SAN6 — Santa Ana Bus Stop 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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 7 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	44m	2h 24m	2h
Total cost (1 person)	$43	$121	$2
Carbon footprint	14 kg CO₂	8 kg CO₂	2 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

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 Apr 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

35.3 mi 44m

via I 405, Torrance Boulevard

Alternative (+8 min)

41 mi 52m

via I 405, CA 91, I 605

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