Drive or Fly: San Francisco, CA to Topanga, 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 SFO–LAX. At 383 miles, driving is the only practical option.
Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)
· · Fuel cost: $
Drive
Door to Door
7h 14m
Distance
383.6 mi
Total Cost
$120
CO2
155 kg
Cost Breakdown
Fly
Door to Door
3h 20m
40m in the air
Air Distance
332 mi
Total Cost
$188
CO2
85 kg
Door-to-Door Timeline
Cost Breakdown
Airports
No scheduled flights found
No commercial flights between SFO and LAX. Flight estimates above are theoretical.
At a Glance
| Drive | Fly | |
|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door time | 7h 14m | 3h 20m |
| Total cost (1 person) | $120 | $188 |
| Carbon footprint | 155 kg CO2 | 85 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, I 580, I 5 Truck
via US 101, US 101; CA 156, CA 154
Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from San Francisco, CA to Topanga, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.