MetroRiderLA

Image courtesy of femaletrumpet02 via Flickr.

Today on the LA Times Daily Travel & Deal Blog there was a post asking, “In California, is it cheaper to drive or fly?” According the the author, if you’re going to San Francisco it’s cheaper to fly and if you’re going to Las Vegas it’s cheaper to drive. Of course, the author ignores other modes of travel to those two cities that may be cheaper, namely taking a bus (either Megabus or Greyhound).MetroRiderLA is going to give you the information that the LA Times neglected in order to help you find the cheapest way to appease your wanderlust.

San Francisco

In the spirit of Wad’s Bay Area transit adventures, we’ll start with a trip to San Francisco. According the the L.A. Times Travel blog, flying is the way to go if you’re looking to save money. Total flight cost, when taking advantage of a Southwest Airlines sale, is $109. Driving will cost you $129 round trip. And what about the missing element? A trip on the Megabus, booking tickets at the last minute, will cost you $73. The Greyhound will set you back $88.

If you’re looking to save money on a trip to San Fran, riding the bus is clearly the way to go.

Las Vegas

You may be a high roller, but you’d rather spend your cash on the slots rather than the ride. The LA Times Travel blog says you should consider driving if you want to get to Vegas on the cheap. Putting the pedal to the metal will cost you $87. If you hop on a cheap Jet Blue flight, you can get to The Strip for $113. Of course, if you’re a real bargain traveler I’d recommend the Megabus, at $62 for a round trip ticket, you can afford to take some risks in Vegas. The Greyhound clocks in at $85.

Of course, if you’re traveling with a group, driving may turn out to be the best deal because costs can be shared. That is unless you and your friends manage to nab some of those $1 seats on the Megabus.