Drive or Fly: Modesto, CA to Santa Ana, 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 SCK–SNA. At 343 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 30m

Distance

343.9 mi

Total Cost

$111

CO2

139 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$76

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 22m

39m in the air

Air Distance

321 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

82 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Modesto, CA → SCK 33m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 39m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SNA → Santa Ana, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Modesto, CA SCK — Stockton Metropolitan Airport 22 mi, ~33m drive

Santa Ana, CA SNA — John Wayne Orange County International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 8m 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

11h 30m

10h 5m on road

Total Cost

$35

CO2

20 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Modesto, CA → Modesto Bus Stop (MDO6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 605m

Arrival 10m

Santa Ana Bus Stop (SAN6) → Santa Ana, CA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $35) $35

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

Stations

From MDO6 — Modesto Bus Stop 0 mi, ~30m drive

To SAN6 — Santa Ana Bus Stop 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	6h 30m	3h 22m	11h 30m
Total cost (1 person)	$111	$188	$35
Carbon footprint	139 kg CO₂	82 kg CO₂	20 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

343.9 mi 6h 29m

via CA 99, I 5, I 5 Truck

Alternative (+4 min)

345.9 mi 6h 34m

via I 5, I 5 Truck, South Carpenter Road

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