Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Drive or Fly: Fontana, CA to Salinas, 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 ONT–MRY. At 349 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 44m

Distance

349.3 mi

Total Cost

$112

CO2

141 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$77
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 9m

36m in the air

Air Distance

297 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

76 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fontana, CA → ONT 15m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 36m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
MRY → Salinas, CA 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Fontana, CA ONT — Ontario International Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive
Salinas, CA MRY — Monterey Regional Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 35m 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 6h 44m 3h 9m
Total cost (1 person) $112 $187
Carbon footprint 141 kg CO2 76 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest
349.3 mi 6h 43m

via US 101, I 5, CA 46

Alternative (+28 min)
355.6 mi 7h 12m

via US 101, CA 138, I 5

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