Drive or Fly: Montague, CA to San Diego, 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 MFR–SAN. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

14h 10m

Distance

757.4 mi

Total Cost

$347

CO2

306 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$167

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 45m

1h 23m in the air

Air Distance

689 mi

Total Cost

$290

CO2

176 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Montague, CA → MFR 72m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 83m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SAN → San Diego, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $235) $235

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Montague, CA MFR — Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport 48 mi, ~72m drive

San Diego, CA SAN — San Diego International Airport 2 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MFR and SAN. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 9h 25m 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	14h 10m	4h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$347	$290
Carbon footprint	306 kg CO₂	176 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 17, 2026.

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