Drive or Fly: Downey, CA to San Jose, 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 LGB–SJC. At 352 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

6h 40m

Distance

352.6 mi

Total Cost

$113

CO2

142 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$78

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 1m

38m in the air

Air Distance

316 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

81 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Downey, CA → LGB 13m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 38m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SJC → San Jose, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Downey, CA LGB — Long Beach International Airport 9 mi, ~13m drive

San Jose, CA SJC — Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between LGB and SJC. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 39m 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

11h

9h 55m on rail

Total Cost

$61

CO2

18 kg

Route

Coast Starlight

Door-to-Door Timeline

Downey, CA → Los Angeles 15m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 595m

Arrival 10m

San Jose → San Jose, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $61) $61

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Los Angeles 10 mi, ~15m drive

To San Jose 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 1 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	6h 40m	3h 1m	11h
Total cost (1 person)	$113	$188	$61
Carbon footprint	142 kg CO₂	81 kg CO₂	18 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

Transit: Amtrak GTFS — fares estimated

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 13, 2026.

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