Drive or Fly: San Jose, CA to Rio Vista, 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 75 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 42m

Distance

75.9 mi

Total Cost

$52

CO2

31 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$17

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 52m

7m in the air

Air Distance

58 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

15 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

San Jose, CA → SJC 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 7m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

CCR → Rio Vista, CA 35m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

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

Rio Vista, CA CCR — Buchanan Field 23 mi, ~35m 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

3h 39m

2h 24m on rail

Total Cost

$13

CO2

4 kg

Route

Capitol Corridor

Door-to-Door Timeline

San Jose, CA → San Jose 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 144m

Arrival 10m

Fairfield-Vacaville Amtrak Station → Rio Vista, CA 25m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $13) $13

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

Stations

From San Jose 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Fairfield-Vacaville Amtrak Station 17 mi, ~25m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	1h 42m	2h 52m	3h 39m
Total cost (1 person)	$52	$122	$13
Carbon footprint	31 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂	4 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

75.9 mi 1h 42m

via South Vasco Road, CA 160, CA 84

Alternative (+10 min)

91.1 mi 1h 52m

via I 880, CA 4, CA 160

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