Drive or Fly: Fremont, CA to Avenal, 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 SJC–FAT. At 177 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 27m

Distance

177.9 mi

Total Cost

$74

CO2

72 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$39

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

4h 5m

18m in the air

Air Distance

148 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

38 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fremont, CA → SJC 20m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FAT → Avenal, CA 87m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Fremont, CA SJC — Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport 13 mi, ~20m drive

Avenal, CA FAT — Fresno Yosemite International Airport 58 mi, ~87m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SJC and FAT. 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

4h 33m

3h 25m on road

Total Cost

$15

CO2

8 kg

Route

Greyhound US0831

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fremont, CA → Hayward Bus Station (UHW) 15m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 205m

Arrival 10m

Coalinga (Valero Gas Station) (CLJ6) → Avenal, CA 28m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $15) $15

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

Stations

From UHW — Hayward Bus Station 10 mi, ~15m drive

To CLJ6 — Coalinga (Valero Gas Station) 19 mi, ~28m 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	3h 27m	4h 5m	4h 33m
Total cost (1 person)	$74	$126	$15
Carbon footprint	72 kg CO₂	38 kg CO₂	8 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

177.9 mi 3h 27m

via I 5, CA 152, US 101

Alternative (+0 min)

181.1 mi 3h 27m

via I 5, I 580, CA 84

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