Drive or Fly: Auburn Lake Trails, CA to San Francisco, CA?
Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.
Driving wins
MediumNo scheduled commercial flights found for SMF–SFO. At 131 miles, driving is the only practical option.
Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)
· · Fuel cost: $
Drive
Door to Door
2h 51m
Distance
131 mi
Total Cost
$64
CO2
53 kg
Cost Breakdown
Fly
Door to Door
3h 26m
13m in the air
Air Distance
112 mi
Total Cost
$124
CO2
29 kg
Door-to-Door Timeline
Cost Breakdown
Airports
No scheduled flights found
No commercial flights between SMF and SFO. Flight estimates above are theoretical.
At a Glance
| Drive | Fly | |
|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door time | 2h 51m | 3h 26m |
| Total cost (1 person) | $64 | $124 |
| Carbon footprint | 53 kg CO2 | 29 kg CO2 |
| Flexibility | High | Low |
| Luggage | Unlimited | Restricted |
| Reliability | Weather dependent | Data unavailable |
Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 17, 2026.
Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Auburn Lake Trails, CA to San Francisco, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.