Drive or Fly: Arcata, CA to Long Beach, CA?

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

Driving wins

Medium

No direct flights for ACV–LGB. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

13h 7m

Distance

676.4 mi

Total Cost

$330

CO2

273 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$150

Hotel (1 room, 1 night) $110

Meals (1 pax, 2 days) $70

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

− Requires 2 days of driving

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 32m

1h 10m in the air

Air Distance

587 mi

Total Cost

$198

CO2

150 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arcata, CA → ACV 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 70m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LGB → Long Beach, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $143) $143

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Arcata, CA ACV — California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

Long Beach, CA LGB — Long Beach International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ACV and LGB. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 9h 35m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	13h 7m	3h 32m
Total cost (1 person)	$330	$198
Carbon footprint	273 kg CO₂	150 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

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 Arcata, CA to Long Beach, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.