Drive or Fly: Woodland, CA to Anaheim, CA?

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

Driving wins

Medium

Driving is significantly cheaper and the distance is manageable in one day.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 58m

Distance

428.2 mi

Total Cost

$116

CO2

173 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$81

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

3h 20m

48m in the air

Air Distance

398 mi

Total Cost

$191

CO2

101 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Woodland, CA → SMF 15m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 48m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SNA → Anaheim, CA 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $136) $136

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Woodland, CA SMF — Sacramento International Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

Anaheim, CA SNA — John Wayne Orange County International Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.5%

Cancellation

1.5%

+ Saves about 4h 38m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

13h 30m

12h 5m on road

Total Cost

$43

CO2

25 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Woodland, CA → Sacramento Bus Station (SAC6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 725m

Arrival 10m

Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ANA6) → Anaheim, CA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $43) $43

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

Stations

From SAC6 — Sacramento Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To ANA6 — Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center 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	7h 58m	3h 20m	13h 30m
Total cost (1 person)	$116	$191	$43
Carbon footprint	173 kg CO₂	101 kg CO₂	25 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	98% on-time

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 Jul 20, 2026.

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