Drive or Fly: Clear Lake Riviera, CA to Bakersfield, 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–BFL. At 364 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 9m

Distance

364.2 mi

Total Cost

$115

CO2

147 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$80

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

3h 35m

38m in the air

Air Distance

321 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

82 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Clear Lake Riviera, CA → STS 47m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 38m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BFL → Bakersfield, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Clear Lake Riviera, CA STS — Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport 31 mi, ~47m drive

Bakersfield, CA BFL — Meadows Field 5 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 34m 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	7h 9m	3h 35m
Total cost (1 person)	$115	$188
Carbon footprint	147 kg CO₂	82 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

364.2 mi 7h 8m

via I 5, I 580, CA 29; CA 128

Alternative (+15 min)

367.9 mi 7h 24m

via CA 99, CA 12, CA 29; CA 128

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Clear Lake Riviera, CA to Bakersfield, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.