Drive or Fly: Van Nuys, CA to Oakland, 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 BUR–OAK. At 356 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 35m

Distance

356.5 mi

Total Cost

$114

CO2

144 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$79

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 59m

39m in the air

Air Distance

329 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

84 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Van Nuys, CA → BUR 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 39m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

OAK → Oakland, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Van Nuys, CA BUR — Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Oakland, CA OAK — San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BUR and OAK. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 36m 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

12h 28m

10h 48m on rail

Total Cost

$65

CO2

21 kg

Route

Coast Starlight

Door-to-Door Timeline

Van Nuys, CA → Van Nuys 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 648m

Arrival 10m

Oakland → Oakland, CA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $65) $65

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

Stations

From Van Nuys 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Oakland 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 1 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	6h 35m	2h 59m	12h 28m
Total cost (1 person)	$114	$188	$65
Carbon footprint	144 kg CO₂	84 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: Amtrak 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 Van Nuys, CA to Oakland, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.