Drive or Fly: Chico, CA to Fontana, 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 RDD–ONT. At 517 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

9h 41m

Distance

517.1 mi

Total Cost

$150

CO2

209 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$115

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 39m

55m in the air

Air Distance

459 mi

Total Cost

$193

CO2

117 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Chico, CA → RDD 89m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 55m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ONT → Fontana, CA 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $138) $138

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Chico, CA RDD — Redding Municipal Airport 59 mi, ~89m drive

Fontana, CA ONT — Ontario International Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between RDD and ONT. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 5h 2m 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	9h 41m	4h 39m
Total cost (1 person)	$150	$193
Carbon footprint	209 kg CO₂	117 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 Chico, CA to Fontana, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.