Drive or Fly: Irvine, CA to Downey, 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 SNA–LGB. At 33 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

41m

Distance

33.5 mi

Total Cost

$42

CO2

14 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$7

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 26m

3m in the air

Air Distance

26 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

7 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Irvine, CA → SNA 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LGB → Downey, CA 13m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

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

Downey, CA LGB — Long Beach International Airport 9 mi, ~13m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SNA and LGB. 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

2h 11m

1h 6m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Pacific Surfliner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Irvine, CA → Irvine 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 66m

Arrival 10m

Los Angeles → Downey, CA 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $8) $8

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

Stations

From Irvine 5 mi, ~10m drive

To Los Angeles 10 mi, ~15m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~37/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

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	41m	2h 26m	2h 11m
Total cost (1 person)	$42	$121	$8
Carbon footprint	14 kg CO₂	7 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: 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

33.5 mi 41m

via I 5, I 405, CA 55

Alternative (+0 min)

34.2 mi 42m

via I 405, I 605

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