Drive or Fly: North Fair Oaks, CA to Oakland, 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 SQL–OAK. At 34 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

47m

Distance

34 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

2h 23m

3m in the air

Air Distance

23 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

6 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

North Fair Oaks, CA → SQL 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

OAK → Oakland, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

North Fair Oaks, CA SQL — San Carlos Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Oakland, CA OAK — San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SQL and OAK. 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

1h 43m

35m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Capitol Corridor

Door-to-Door Timeline

North Fair Oaks, CA → Fremont 18m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 35m

Arrival 10m

Oakland → Oakland, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $4) $4

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

Stations

From Fremont 12 mi, ~18m drive

To Oakland 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~42/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 22m

25m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Greyhound US0831

Door-to-Door Timeline

North Fair Oaks, CA → Hayward Bus Station (UHW) 22m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 25m

Arrival 10m

Oakland (West Oakland Bart Station) (OAK) → Oakland, CA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $2) $2

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

Stations

From UHW — Hayward Bus Station 15 mi, ~22m drive

To OAK — Oakland (West Oakland Bart 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	47m	2h 23m	1h 43m	1h 22m
Total cost (1 person)	$43	$121	$4	$2
Carbon footprint	14 kg CO₂	6 kg CO₂	1 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: Amtrak GTFS, 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

34 mi 46m

via I 880, CA 84

Alternative (+8 min)

38.4 mi 55m

via US 101, I 80

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from North Fair Oaks, CA to Oakland, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.