Drive or Fly: Irvine, CA to Sherman Oaks, 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–BUR. At 61 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 13m

Distance

61.9 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 26m

6m in the air

Air Distance

49 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

12 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Irvine, CA → SNA 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 6m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BUR → Sherman Oaks, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

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

Sherman Oaks, CA BUR — Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SNA and BUR. 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 53m

1h 53m on rail

Total Cost

$11

CO2

3 kg

Route

Pacific Surfliner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Irvine, CA → Irvine 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 113m

Arrival 10m

Van Nuys → Sherman Oaks, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $11) $11

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

Stations

From Irvine 5 mi, ~10m drive

To Van Nuys 4 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~21/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	1h 13m	2h 26m	2h 53m
Total cost (1 person)	$49	$122	$11
Carbon footprint	25 kg CO₂	12 kg CO₂	3 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

61.9 mi 1h 13m

via I 5, CA 134, I 405

Alternative (+0 min)

62.1 mi 1h 13m

via I 405

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