Drive or Fly: San Jose, CA to Knightsen, 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 SJC–CCR. At 60 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 26m

Distance

60 mi

Total Cost

$48

CO2

24 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$13

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 47m

5m in the air

Air Distance

45 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

12 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

San Jose, CA → SJC 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 5m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

CCR → Knightsen, CA 32m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

San Jose, CA SJC — Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

Knightsen, CA CCR — Buchanan Field 21 mi, ~32m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SJC and CCR. 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

2h 54m

1h 35m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

San Jose, CA → San Jose 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 95m

Arrival 10m

Tracy Bus Stop Amtrak Bus Stop → Knightsen, CA 29m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $8) $8

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

Stations

From San Jose 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Tracy Bus Stop Amtrak Bus Stop 19 mi, ~29m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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

− Limited schedule — about 6 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	1h 26m	2h 47m	2h 54m
Total cost (1 person)	$48	$122	$8
Carbon footprint	24 kg CO₂	12 kg CO₂	2 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 — 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

60 mi 1h 25m

via South Vasco Road, CA 84, I 880

Alternative (+13 min)

73 mi 1h 39m

via I 880, I 580, South Vasco Road

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