Drive or Fly: Mendota, CA to Fresno, 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 FAT–FAT. At 35 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

52m

Distance

35.6 mi

Total Cost

$43

CO2

14 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$8

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 9m

4m in the air

Air Distance

34 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

9 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mendota, CA → FAT 55m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 4m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FAT → Fresno, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Mendota, CA FAT — Fresno Yosemite International Airport 37 mi, ~55m drive

Fresno, CA FAT — Fresno Yosemite International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between FAT and FAT. 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

1h 34m

25m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Greyhound US0810

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mendota, CA → Madera Bus Stop (MDA6) 34m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 25m

Arrival 10m

Fresno Bus Station (FRS6) → Fresno, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $2) $2

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

Stations

From MDA6 — Madera Bus Stop 23 mi, ~34m drive

To FRS6 — Fresno Bus Station 1 mi, ~10m 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	52m	3h 9m	1h 34m
Total cost (1 person)	$43	$121	$2
Carbon footprint	14 kg CO₂	9 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 12, 2026.

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