Drive or Fly: Williams, 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 SMF–SAN. At 569 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

10h 38m

Distance

569.3 mi

Total Cost

$306

CO2

230 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$126

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 23m

1h 4m in the air

Air Distance

532 mi

Total Cost

$196

CO2

136 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Williams, CA → SMF 66m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 64m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SAN → Chula Vista, CA 13m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $141) $141

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Williams, CA SMF — Sacramento International Airport 44 mi, ~66m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 6h 15m 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	10h 38m	4h 23m
Total cost (1 person)	$306	$196
Carbon footprint	230 kg CO₂	136 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 Williams, CA to Chula Vista, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.