Drive or Fly: Simi Valley, CA to Chula 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 BUR–SAN. At 169 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 25m

Distance

169.4 mi

Total Cost

$72

CO2

68 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$37

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

3h 8m

18m in the air

Air Distance

149 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

38 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Simi Valley, CA → BUR 37m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SAN → Chula Vista, CA 13m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Simi Valley, CA BUR — Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport 25 mi, ~37m drive

Chula Vista, CA SAN — San Diego International Airport 9 mi, ~13m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BUR and SAN. 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

6h 10m

4h 30m on rail

Total Cost

$28

CO2

10 kg

Route

Pacific Surfliner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Simi Valley, CA → Simi Valley Amtrak 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 270m

Arrival 10m

San Diego → Chula Vista, CA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $28) $28

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

Stations

From Simi Valley Amtrak 0 mi, ~30m drive

To San Diego 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~17/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	3h 25m	3h 8m	6h 10m
Total cost (1 person)	$72	$126	$28
Carbon footprint	68 kg CO₂	38 kg CO₂	10 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

169.4 mi 3h 24m

via I 5, I 805, CA 118

Alternative (+0 min)

173.4 mi 3h 25m

via I 405, I 5, I 805

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Simi Valley, CA to Chula Vista, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.