Drive or Fly: Anaheim, CA to Altadena, 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 SNA–BUR. At 34 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

52m

Distance

34.3 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 40m

3m in the air

Air Distance

27 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

7 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Anaheim, CA → SNA 17m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 3m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
BUR → Altadena, CA 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Anaheim, CA SNA — John Wayne Orange County International Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive
Altadena, CA BUR — Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport 13 mi, ~20m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SNA and BUR. 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

3h 3m

2h 15m on road

Total Cost

$3

CO2

2 kg

Route

Greyhound US0831

Door-to-Door Timeline

Anaheim, CA → Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ANA6) 10m
Boarding 15m
Bus ride 135m
Arrival 10m
Glendale Bus Stop (GLN6) → Altadena, CA 13m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

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

Stations

From ANA6 — Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center 3 mi, ~10m drive
To GLN6 — Glendale Bus Stop 9 mi, ~13m 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 52m 2h 40m 3h 3m
Total cost (1 person) $43 $121 $3
Carbon footprint 14 kg CO2 7 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 13, 2026.

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