Drive or Fly: McCloud, CA to Long Beach, CA?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No direct flights for RDD–LGB. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

11h 42m

Distance

634.2 mi

Total Cost

$320

CO2

256 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$140

Hotel (1 room, 1 night) $110

Meals (1 pax, 2 days) $70

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

− Requires 2 days of driving

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 35m

1h 7m in the air

Air Distance

561 mi

Total Cost

$197

CO2

143 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

McCloud, CA → RDD 78m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 67m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LGB → Long Beach, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $142) $142

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

McCloud, CA RDD — Redding Municipal Airport 52 mi, ~78m drive

Long Beach, CA LGB — Long Beach International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between RDD and LGB. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 7h 7m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	11h 42m	4h 35m
Total cost (1 person)	$320	$197
Carbon footprint	256 kg CO₂	143 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 16, 2026.

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