Compare: Los Angeles→Phoenix (574 km) vs Los Angeles→San Diego (179 km). Los Angeles → San Diego wins by 395 km (69%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 7, 2026
574 km
357 miles · Flight: ~1h 13min · Drive: ~9h 20min
179 km
111 miles · Flight: ~43 min · Drive: ~2h 55min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 395 km (69%) · Flight time difference: ~30 min
Verdict
Los Angeles → San Diego is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 395 km (69%) shorter, saves about 30 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 100 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Los Angeles → Phoenix only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Los Angeles → San Diego is the shorter route at 179 km, which is 395 km (69%) shorter than Los Angeles → Phoenix. You would save approximately 30 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Los Angeles → Phoenix | Los Angeles → San Diego |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 574 | 179 |
| Distance (miles) | 357 | 111 |
| Flight time | ~1h 13min | ~43 min |
| Driving time | ~9h 20min | ~2h 55min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~746 km | ~233 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 95° (E) | 146° (SE) |
| Time-zone shift | +1h | None |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~146 kg | ~46 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~128 kg | ~40 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$75 USD | ~$23 USD |
Flying from Los Angeles to Phoenix produces roughly 146 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Los Angeles → San Diego flight emits about 46 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 100 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 5 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 128 kg and 40 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Los Angeles to Phoenix route covers 574 km (357 miles), staying within North America. Los Angeles (population: 3,979,576) is located in West Coast, United States, while Phoenix (population: 1,680,992) is in Southwest, United States.
The Los Angeles to San Diego route covers 179 km (111 miles), remaining within North America. Los Angeles (population: 3,979,576) is in West Coast, United States, and San Diego (population: 1,423,851) is in West Coast, United States.
Flying from Los Angeles to Phoenix takes approximately 1h 13min, while Los Angeles to San Diego takes 43 min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 9h 20min for the first route and 2h 55min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Los Angeles, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Phoenix and San Diego as a destination.
The 395 km difference between these routes is substantial and will significantly impact travel time and cost.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 746 km and 233 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 513 km of driving.
Phoenix (United States) has a population of 1,680,992 and is located in the Southwest region of North America. It's a significant city with good transport links and cultural offerings.
San Diego (United States) has a population of 1,423,851 and is situated in West Coast, North America. This city serves as an important regional hub with solid connectivity.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Phoenix (United States) — a city of 1,680,992 in the Southwest region of North America. Despite being the longer of the two at 574 km, it makes sense when Phoenix itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 746 km of road and a fuel cost band around $75 USD. The initial bearing is 95° (E), so a great-circle flight leaves Los Angeles heading roughly E.
This route is the right call if you are heading to San Diego (United States) — a city of 1,423,851 in the West Coast region of North America. It is also the shorter of the two at 179 km, saving about 30 min of flying and around 100 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 233 km of road and a fuel cost in the $23 USD range. Departing Los Angeles, the great-circle bearing toward San Diego is 146° (SE).
Los Angeles (34.05°, -118.24°) and Phoenix (33.45°, -112.07°) sit with a time-zone shift of +1 hour. Los Angeles (34.05°, -118.24°) and San Diego (32.72°, -117.16°) share an approximate time zone. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
San Diego is closer at 179 km, which is 395 km (69%) shorter.
574 km (357 miles). Flight: ~1h 13min.
179 km (111 miles). Flight: ~43 min.
Flying to San Diego is faster at ~43 min, saving about 30 min compared to Phoenix.
All distances on SnapDistance are calculated using the Haversine formula, which determines the great-circle distance between two points on Earth's surface. This gives the shortest possible distance over the globe, which is the measurement used for aviation and navigation. Actual travel distances by road or rail are typically 20-40% longer due to terrain, borders, and infrastructure routing. Flight times assume 800 km/h cruising speed with 30 minutes for takeoff and landing. Driving estimates use 80 km/h average speed with a 30% road distance factor.
📍 Data: Coordinates from OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances calculated using the Haversine formula. Travel times are estimates only. Last verified: April 7, 2026.