Drive or Fly: Foster City, CA to Irvine, 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 SQL–SNA. At 411 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 40m

Distance

411.5 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

166 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$91

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 4m

44m in the air

Air Distance

367 mi

Total Cost

$190

CO2

94 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Foster City, CA → SQL 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 44m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SNA → Irvine, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Foster City, CA SQL — San Carlos Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

Irvine, CA SNA — John Wayne Orange County International Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 4h 36m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

11h 4m

10h 10m on road

Total Cost

$40

CO2

21 kg

Route

Greyhound US0831

Door-to-Door Timeline

Foster City, CA → Hayward Bus Station (UHW) 19m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 610m

Arrival 10m

Santa Ana Bus Stop (SAN6) → Irvine, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $40) $40

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

Stations

From UHW — Hayward Bus Station 13 mi, ~19m drive

To SAN6 — Santa Ana Bus Stop 6 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	7h 40m	3h 4m	11h 4m
Total cost (1 person)	$126	$190	$40
Carbon footprint	166 kg CO₂	94 kg CO₂	21 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

411.5 mi 7h 39m

via I 5, I 5 Truck, I 580

Shortest (+2 min)

407.9 mi 7h 42m

via I 5, I 5 Truck, US 101

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