Drive or Fly: Monterey, CA to Fontana, 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 MRY–ONT. At 366 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 7m

Distance

366.5 mi

Total Cost

$116

CO2

148 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$81

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 2m

37m in the air

Air Distance

305 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

78 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Monterey, CA → MRY 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 37m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ONT → Fontana, CA 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Monterey, CA MRY — Monterey Regional Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

Fontana, CA ONT — Ontario International Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MRY and ONT. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 4h 5m 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	7h 7m	3h 2m
Total cost (1 person)	$116	$187
Carbon footprint	148 kg CO₂	78 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

366.5 mi 7h 7m

via US 101, CA 46, I 5 Truck

Alternative (+31 min)

386.4 mi 7h 39m

via CA 58, US 101, CA 46

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