How far is Chula Vista, CA from Arcata, CA?
The driving distance from Chula Vista, CA to Arcata, CA is about 778.1 miles (1252.2 km), with a travel time of about 15h 06m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 687.4 miles (1106.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 30h 12m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 15h 06m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
The county seat of Merced County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Chula Vista and Arcata.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chula Vista and Arcata.
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1
Start on F Street
16 m · 3 sec · F Street
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2
Turn left onto 4th Avenue
1.5 km · 2 min · 4th Avenue
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3
Continue on Highland Avenue
146 m · 11 sec · Highland Avenue
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4
Take the ramp right toward CA 54 East
1007 ft · 25 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto South Bay Freeway
1592 ft · 19 sec · South Bay Freeway
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6
Take the exit slight right toward I 805
958 ft · 23 sec
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7
Keep slight left to continue on I 805 North
1.4 km · 2 min
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8
Merge slight left onto Jacob Dekema Freeway
18.7 mi · 21 min · Jacob Dekema Freeway
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9
Keep slight left
1.3 km · 56 sec
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10
Merge slight right onto San Diego Freeway
35.4 mi · 42 min · San Diego Freeway
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11
Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway
18.1 mi · 21 min · San Diego Freeway
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12
Keep slight left to continue on San Diego Freeway
7.4 mi · 9 min · San Diego Freeway
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13
Keep slight right to continue on Bake Parkway
1.6 mi · 2 min
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14
Keep slight right
6 mi · 7 min
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15
Take the exit slight right toward Jamboree Road
1266 ft · 17 sec
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16
Continue straight
527 ft · 11 sec
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17
Turn right onto Jamboree Road
760 ft · 18 sec · Jamboree Road
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18
Turn left onto El Camino Real
2.2 mi · 5 min · El Camino Real
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19
Turn left onto Newport Avenue
109 m · 14 sec · Newport Avenue
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20
Take the ramp right toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
1127 ft · 17 sec
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21
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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22
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.7 mi · 2 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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23
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
9.4 mi · 11 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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24
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
18 mi · 21 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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25
Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Freeway
25.5 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway
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26
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Golden State Freeway
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27
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
1.5 mi · 2 min
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28
Keep slight left
36.1 mi · 42 min
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29
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
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30
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
225.6 mi · 4 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway
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31
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
15.9 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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32
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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33
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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34
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
1.6 mi · 2 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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35
Take the exit slight right toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek
857 ft · 16 sec
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36
Keep slight right to continue on I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento
1614 ft · 30 sec
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37
Merge slight left onto Donald D Doyle Highway
15.2 mi · 18 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
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38
Continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
5 mi · 6 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
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39
Keep slight left to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
6 mi · 7 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
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40
Keep slight left to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
74 m · 3 sec · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
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41
Keep slight right to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
1.8 mi · 2 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
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42
Keep slight left to continue on I 780: Benicia
6.7 mi · 8 min
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43
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East: Sacramento
1379 ft · 34 sec
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44
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Sacramento
137 m · 11 sec
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45
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
2.7 mi · 3 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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46
Take the exit slight right toward CA 37: Napa, Novato, Auto Mall, Columbus Parkway
752 ft · 18 sec
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47
Keep slight left to continue on CA 37: Napa
2517 ft · 1 min
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48
Continue on CA 37
1.5 mi · 2 min
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49
Take the exit slight right toward CA 29: Napa, Sonoma Boulevard
1912 ft · 51 sec
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50
Turn right onto Sonoma Boulevard
1.6 mi · 2 min · Sonoma Boulevard
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51
Continue on Broadway Street
4 mi · 5 min · Broadway Street
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52
Continue on Napa–Vallejo Highway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Napa–Vallejo Highway
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53
Continue on Saint Helena Highway
21.7 mi · 26 min · Saint Helena Highway
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54
Continue on Main Street
2.4 mi · 3 min · Main Street
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55
Continue on Saint Helena Highway
6.8 mi · 8 min · Saint Helena Highway
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56
Continue on Foothill Boulevard
1.4 mi · 2 min · Foothill Boulevard
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57
Continue on Saint Helena Highway
16.1 mi · 18 min · Saint Helena Highway
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58
Continue on Saint Helena Highway
6.6 mi · 8 min · Saint Helena Highway
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59
At the end of the road, turn right onto Geyserville Avenue
1.5 km · 1 min · Geyserville Avenue
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60
Turn left onto Canyon Road
110 m · 7 sec · Canyon Road
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61
Take the exit right
1615 ft · 39 sec
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62
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
55.3 mi · 1 hr 7 min · Redwood Highway
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63
Continue on Willits Bypass
4.5 mi · 5 min · Willits Bypass
-
64
Take the exit slight right
1.1 km · 48 sec
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65
Merge slight left onto Willits Bypass
1236 ft · 16 sec · Willits Bypass
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66
Continue on Redwood Highway
128.9 mi · 2 hr 38 min · Redwood Highway
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67
Continue on Broadway Street
2.9 mi · 6 min · Broadway Street
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68
Turn right onto West 5th Street
1.4 mi · 4 min · West 5th Street
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69
Continue on Redwood Highway
6.1 mi · 9 min · Redwood Highway
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70
Take the exit slight right toward CA 255: Arcata, Sunnybrae
968 ft · 24 sec
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71
Keep slight left
934 ft · 23 sec
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72
Keep slight left
1373 ft · 33 sec
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73
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Chula Vista and Arcata.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
226 mi · 04h 02m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Mostly Sunny leaving Chula Vista and Mostly Sunny near Arcata.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Chula Vista to Arcata?
The road trip is about 778.1 miles (1252.2 km) and usually takes 15h 06m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Los Banos is a useful midpoint, sitting about 389.2 miles from Chula Vista and 388.9 miles from Arcata.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 687.4 miles (1106.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 90.7 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $158.42 one way or $316.83 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 244 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Chula Vista and Mostly Sunny near Arcata.
Stop Ideas Near Los Banos
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Los Banos.
Merced station
Denair station
Gilroy, California
Modesto station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Chula Vista and Arcata. Straight-line distance: 687.33 mi (1106.15 km).
#1 Chula Vista
The second most populous city in San Diego County, California.
| Population | 272,979 |
| Coordinates | 32.6400500, -117.0842000 |
| Altitude | 21 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Arcata
City in California
| Population | 18,044 |
| Coordinates | 40.8665200, -124.0828400 |
| Altitude | 7 |
| Country | United States |
End: Arcata (-124.08284, 40.86652)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1252 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 25h 55m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 19h 27m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 15h 33m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 12h 58m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 11h 06m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 09h 42m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $158.42 | $316.83 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $166.57 | $333.14 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $171.43 | $342.87 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $207.79 | $415.58 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in California · Apr 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.