Drive or Fly: Los Altos, CA to Anaheim, 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 SJC–SNA. At 378 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

7h 14m

Distance

378.6 mi

Total Cost

$119

CO2

153 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$84

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 13m

41m in the air

Air Distance

340 mi

Total Cost

$189

CO2

87 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Los Altos, CA → SJC 15m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 41m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SNA → Anaheim, CA 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $134) $134

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Los Altos, CA SJC — Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

Anaheim, CA SNA — John Wayne Orange County International Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SJC and SNA. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 4h 1m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

10h 5m

8h 40m on road

Total Cost

$37

CO2

22 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Los Altos, CA → San Jose Diridon Station (SJO6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 520m

Arrival 10m

Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ANA6) → Anaheim, CA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $37) $37

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

Stations

From SJO6 — San Jose Diridon Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To ANA6 — Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	7h 14m	3h 13m	10h 5m
Total cost (1 person)	$119	$189	$37
Carbon footprint	153 kg CO₂	87 kg CO₂	22 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: FlixBus 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 13, 2026.

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