Drive or Fly: Rancho Cordova, CA to Folsom, 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 SMF–SMF. At 10 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

16m

Distance

10.8 mi

Total Cost

$37

CO2

4 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$2

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 1m

1m in the air

Air Distance

9 mi

Total Cost

$120

CO2

2 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Rancho Cordova, CA → SMF 26m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 1m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SMF → Folsom, CA 34m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $120) $120

Airports

Rancho Cordova, CA SMF — Sacramento International Airport 17 mi, ~26m drive

Folsom, CA SMF — Sacramento International Airport 22 mi, ~34m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SMF and SMF. 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 28m

35m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Greyhound US0870

Door-to-Door Timeline

Rancho Cordova, CA → Sacramento Bus Station (SAC6) 16m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 35m

Arrival 10m

Roseville Bus Stop (RSV6) → Folsom, CA 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $2) $2

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

Stations

From SAC6 — Sacramento Bus Station 11 mi, ~16m drive

To RSV6 — Roseville Bus Stop 8 mi, ~12m 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	16m	3h 1m	1h 28m
Total cost (1 person)	$37	$120	$2
Carbon footprint	4 kg CO₂	2 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

10.8 mi 16m

via US 50

Alternative (+3 min)

12.6 mi 19m

via US 50

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