Drive or Fly: San Mateo, CA to San Diego, 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–SAN. At 489 miles, driving is the only practical option.
Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)
· · Fuel cost: $
Drive
Door to Door
9h 22m
Distance
489.8 mi
Total Cost
$143
CO2
198 kg
Cost Breakdown
Fly
Door to Door
3h 13m
53m in the air
Air Distance
444 mi
Total Cost
$193
CO2
113 kg
Door-to-Door Timeline
Cost Breakdown
Airports
No scheduled flights found
No commercial flights between SFO and SAN. Flight estimates above are theoretical.
At a Glance
| Drive | Fly | |
|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door time | 9h 22m | 3h 13m |
| Total cost (1 person) | $143 | $193 |
| Carbon footprint | 198 kg CO2 | 113 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 18, 2026.
Route Options
2 different routes between these cities.
via I 5, I 5 Truck, US 101
via I 5, US 101; CA 156, I 5 Truck
Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from San Mateo, CA to San Diego, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.