Drive or Fly: Clearlake, CA to San Diego, 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 STS–SAN. At 580 miles, driving is the only practical option.
Drive
Door to Door
11h 14m
Distance
580.7 mi
Total Cost
$309
CO2
235 kg
Cost Breakdown
Fly
Door to Door
4h 2m
1h 3m in the air
Air Distance
529 mi
Total Cost
$196
CO2
135 kg
Door-to-Door Timeline
Cost Breakdown
Airports
No scheduled flights found
No commercial flights between STS and SAN. Flight estimates above are theoretical.
At a Glance
| Drive | Fly | |
|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door time | 11h 14m | 4h 2m |
| Total cost (1 person) | $309 | $196 |
| Carbon footprint | 235 kg CO2 | 135 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 12, 2026.
Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Clearlake, CA to San Diego, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.