Drive or Fly: Ukiah, 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 direct flights for STS–SAN. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

11h 43m

Distance

615.9 mi

Total Cost

$317

CO2

249 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$137

Hotel (1 room, 1 night) $110

Meals (1 pax, 2 days) $70

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

− Requires 2 days of driving

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 35m

1h 8m in the air

Air Distance

565 mi

Total Cost

$198

CO2

144 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ukiah, CA → STS 74m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 68m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SAN → Chula Vista, CA 13m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $143) $143

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Ukiah, CA STS — Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport 49 mi, ~74m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between STS and SAN. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 7h 8m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	11h 43m	4h 35m
Total cost (1 person)	$317	$198
Carbon footprint	249 kg CO₂	144 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

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 13, 2026.

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