Drive or Fly: Los Banos, CA to Gustine, 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 MCE–MCE. At 27 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

34m

Distance

27.1 mi

Total Cost

$41

CO2

11 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$6

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 18m

2m in the air

Air Distance

16 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

4 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Los Banos, CA → MCE 36m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MCE → Gustine, CA 40m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Los Banos, CA MCE — Merced Regional Macready Field 24 mi, ~36m drive

Gustine, CA MCE — Merced Regional Macready Field 27 mi, ~40m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MCE and MCE. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

2h 2m

30m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Greyhound US0810

Door-to-Door Timeline

Los Banos, CA → Merced Bus Stop (MCD6) 39m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 30m

Arrival 10m

Turlock (Sinclair) (TRK6) → Gustine, CA 28m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

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

Stations

From MCD6 — Merced Bus Stop 26 mi, ~39m drive

To TRK6 — Turlock (Sinclair) 19 mi, ~28m 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	34m	3h 18m	2h 2m
Total cost (1 person)	$41	$121	$3
Carbon footprint	11 kg CO₂	4 kg CO₂	1 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 16, 2026.

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