Drive or Fly: Calistoga, CA to Riverside, 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 STS–SBD. At 488 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

8h 22m

Distance

488.5 mi

Total Cost

$144

CO2

197 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$109

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 32m

52m in the air

Air Distance

431 mi

Total Cost

$192

CO2

110 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Calistoga, CA → STS 20m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 52m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SBD → Riverside, CA 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $137) $137

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Calistoga, CA STS — Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport 14 mi, ~20m drive

Riverside, CA SBD — San Bernardino International Airport 14 mi, ~20m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between STS and SBD. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 4h 50m 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	8h 22m	3h 32m
Total cost (1 person)	$144	$192
Carbon footprint	197 kg CO₂	110 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 12, 2026.

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