Drive or Fly: Sacramento, CA to Avila Beach, CA?
Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.
Driving wins
MediumNo scheduled commercial flights found for SMF–SBP. At 299 miles, driving is the only practical option.
Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)
· · Fuel cost: $
Drive
Door to Door
5h 45m
Distance
299.6 mi
Total Cost
$101
CO2
121 kg
Cost Breakdown
Fly
Door to Door
2h 53m
29m in the air
Air Distance
239 mi
Total Cost
$185
CO2
61 kg
Door-to-Door Timeline
Cost Breakdown
Airports
No scheduled flights found
No commercial flights between SMF and SBP. Flight estimates above are theoretical.
At a Glance
| Drive | Fly | |
|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door time | 5h 45m | 2h 53m |
| Total cost (1 person) | $101 | $185 |
| Carbon footprint | 121 kg CO2 | 61 kg CO2 |
| Flexibility | High | Low |
| Luggage | Unlimited | Restricted |
| Reliability | Weather dependent | Data unavailable |
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.
via I 5, US 101; CA 46, CA 41; CA 46
via US 101; CA 156, I 680, US 101
Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Sacramento, CA to Avila Beach, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.