Drive or Fly: Union City, CA to Santa Ana, 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 SQL–SNA. At 394 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 24m

Distance

394.5 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

159 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$87

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 9m

43m in the air

Air Distance

356 mi

Total Cost

$189

CO2

91 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Union City, CA → SQL 16m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 43m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SNA → Santa Ana, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $134) $134

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Union City, CA SQL — San Carlos Airport 11 mi, ~16m drive

Santa Ana, CA SNA — John Wayne Orange County International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 4h 15m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

10h 39m

9h 54m on road

Total Cost

$40

CO2

21 kg

Route

Greyhound US0831

Door-to-Door Timeline

Union City, CA → Hayward Bus Station (UHW) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 594m

Arrival 10m

Santa Ana Bus Stop (SAN6) → Santa Ana, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $40) $40

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

Stations

From UHW — Hayward Bus Station 5 mi, ~10m drive

To SAN6 — Santa Ana Bus Stop 1 mi, ~10m 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 24m	3h 9m	10h 39m
Total cost (1 person)	$122	$189	$40
Carbon footprint	159 kg CO₂	91 kg CO₂	21 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.

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