Drive or Fly: Laguna, CA to Amesti, 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 SMF–MRY. At 153 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 14m

Distance

153.8 mi

Total Cost

$69

CO2

62 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$34
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 23m

12m in the air

Air Distance

103 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

26 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Laguna, CA → SMF 32m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 12m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
MRY → Amesti, CA 39m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Laguna, CA SMF — Sacramento International Airport 21 mi, ~32m drive
Amesti, CA MRY — Monterey Regional Airport 26 mi, ~39m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SMF and MRY. 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

At a Glance

Drive Fly
Door-to-door time 3h 14m 3h 23m
Total cost (1 person) $69 $124
Carbon footprint 62 kg CO2 26 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
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 12, 2026.

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