Drive or Fly: Los Alamos, CA to Bakersfield, CA?
Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.
Driving wins
MediumNo scheduled commercial flights found for SMX–BFL. At 139 miles, driving is the only practical option.
Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)
· · Fuel cost: $
Drive
Door to Door
2h 55m
Distance
139.3 mi
Total Cost
$66
CO2
56 kg
Cost Breakdown
Fly
Door to Door
2h 42m
10m in the air
Air Distance
83 mi
Total Cost
$123
CO2
21 kg
Door-to-Door Timeline
Cost Breakdown
Airports
No scheduled flights found
No commercial flights between SMX and BFL. Flight estimates above are theoretical.
At a Glance
| Drive | Fly | |
|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door time | 2h 55m | 2h 42m |
| Total cost (1 person) | $66 | $123 |
| Carbon footprint | 56 kg CO2 | 21 kg CO2 |
| Flexibility | High | Low |
| Luggage | Unlimited | Restricted |
| Reliability | Weather dependent | Data unavailable |
Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 17, 2026.
Route Options
2 different routes between these cities.
via CA 166, US 101, CA 119
via CA 166, CA 99, US 101
Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Los Alamos, CA to Bakersfield, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.