Drive or Fly: Fontana, CA to San Juan Capistrano, 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–SNA. At 61 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

1h 17m

Distance

61.3 mi

Total Cost

$49

CO2

25 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$14

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

2h 45m

5m in the air

Air Distance

43 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

11 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fontana, CA → ONT 15m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 5m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SNA → San Juan Capistrano, CA 25m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

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

San Juan Capistrano, CA SNA — John Wayne Orange County International Airport 17 mi, ~25m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

2h 7m

1h on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Greyhound US0900

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fontana, CA → San Bernardino Depot (SBN6) 11m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 60m

Arrival 10m

Santa Ana Bus Stop (SAN6) → San Juan Capistrano, CA 31m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $4) $4

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

Stations

From SBN6 — San Bernardino Depot 7 mi, ~11m drive

To SAN6 — Santa Ana Bus Stop 21 mi, ~31m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~14/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	1h 17m	2h 45m	2h 7m
Total cost (1 person)	$49	$122	$4
Carbon footprint	25 kg CO₂	11 kg CO₂	2 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: FlixBus 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 Fontana, CA to San Juan Capistrano, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.