Drive or Fly: Fremont, CA to Folsom, 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–SMF. At 125 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 31m

Distance

125.5 mi

Total Cost

$63

CO2

51 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$28

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 5m

11m in the air

Air Distance

90 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

23 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fremont, CA → SJC 20m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 11m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SMF → Folsom, CA 34m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

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

Folsom, CA SMF — Sacramento International Airport 22 mi, ~34m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SJC and SMF. 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

4h 2m

3h on rail

Total Cost

$18

CO2

5 kg

Route

Capitol Corridor

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fremont, CA → Fremont 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 180m

Arrival 10m

Roseville Amtrak → Folsom, CA 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $18) $18

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

Stations

From Fremont 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Roseville Amtrak 8 mi, ~12m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 6 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	2h 31m	3h 5m	4h 2m
Total cost (1 person)	$63	$124	$18
Carbon footprint	51 kg CO₂	23 kg CO₂	5 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

125.5 mi 2h 31m

via I 680, I 80, US 50

Shortest (+1 min)

118.8 mi 2h 32m

via CA 99, I 205, I 580

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