Drive or Fly: Walnut Creek, CA to Los Angeles, 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 CCR–HHR. At 363 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 45m

Distance

363.5 mi

Total Cost

$115

CO2

147 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$80

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 7m

41m in the air

Air Distance

341 mi

Total Cost

$189

CO2

87 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Walnut Creek, CA → CCR 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 41m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

HHR → Los Angeles, CA 16m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $134) $134

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Walnut Creek, CA CCR — Buchanan Field 6 mi, ~10m drive

Los Angeles, CA HHR — Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport 10 mi, ~16m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CCR and HHR. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 38m 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

14h 57m

13h 17m on rail

Total Cost

$70

CO2

21 kg

Route

Coast Starlight

Door-to-Door Timeline

Walnut Creek, CA → Martinez 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 797m

Arrival 10m

Los Angeles → Los Angeles, CA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $70) $70

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

Stations

From Martinez 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Los Angeles 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 1 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	6h 45m	3h 7m	14h 57m
Total cost (1 person)	$115	$189	$70
Carbon footprint	147 kg CO₂	87 kg CO₂	21 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.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Walnut Creek, CA to Los Angeles, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.