Drive or Fly: Los Alamos, CA to San Diego, 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–SAN. At 262 miles, driving is the only practical option.
Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)
· · Fuel cost: $
Drive
Door to Door
5h 16m
Distance
262.9 mi
Total Cost
$93
CO2
106 kg
Cost Breakdown
Fly
Door to Door
2h 59m
27m in the air
Air Distance
227 mi
Total Cost
$184
CO2
58 kg
Door-to-Door Timeline
Cost Breakdown
Airports
No scheduled flights found
No commercial flights between SMX and SAN. Flight estimates above are theoretical.
At a Glance
| Drive | Fly | |
|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door time | 5h 16m | 2h 59m |
| Total cost (1 person) | $93 | $184 |
| Carbon footprint | 106 kg CO2 | 58 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 US 101, I 5, I 405
via US 101, I 5, CA 154
Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Los Alamos, CA to San Diego, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.