How far is Chula Vista, CA from Chowchilla, CA?

The driving distance from Chula Vista, CA to Chowchilla, CA is about 382.8 miles (616.1 km), with a travel time of about 07h 16m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 358.2 miles (576.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 33m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
382.85 mi
07h 16m
Flight
358.19 mi
576.45 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Chula Vista.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
358.19 mi
Kilometers
576.45 km
Flight Time
00h 43m

Driving Distance

Road route
382.85 mi
Kilometers
616.13 km
Drive Time
07h 16m

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 07h 16m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chowchilla
Thu, Apr 16, 2:26 PM PDT
Return by in Chula Vista
Thu, Apr 16, 9:43 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chula Vista
2026-04-16T07:09
Arrive Chowchilla
Thu, Apr 16, 2:26 PM PDT
Route Timing
07h 16m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:17 PM to 2:47 PM PDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
9:26 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Chula Vista
8:00 PM PDT
Overnight-style route

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Lebec
CA

City in California, United States of America

From Chula Vista
191.6 mi
03h 38m
To Chowchilla
191.3 mi
03h 38m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 15 mph SW
Destination
69°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Chula Vista and Chowchilla.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chula Vista and Chowchilla.

  1. 1

    Start on F Street

    16 m · 3 sec · F Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto 4th Avenue

    1.5 km · 2 min · 4th Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on Highland Avenue

    146 m · 11 sec · Highland Avenue

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right toward CA 54 East

    1007 ft · 25 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto South Bay Freeway

    1592 ft · 19 sec · South Bay Freeway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 805

    958 ft · 23 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on I 805 North

    1.4 km · 2 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Jacob Dekema Freeway

    18.7 mi · 21 min · Jacob Dekema Freeway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    1.3 km · 56 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight right onto San Diego Freeway

    35.4 mi · 42 min · San Diego Freeway

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway

    18.1 mi · 21 min · San Diego Freeway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on San Diego Freeway

    7.4 mi · 9 min · San Diego Freeway

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on Bake Parkway

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight right

    6 mi · 7 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward Jamboree Road

    1266 ft · 17 sec

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    527 ft · 11 sec

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Jamboree Road

    760 ft · 18 sec · Jamboree Road

  18. 18

    Turn left onto El Camino Real

    2.2 mi · 5 min · El Camino Real

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Newport Avenue

    109 m · 14 sec · Newport Avenue

  20. 20

    Take the ramp right toward I 5 North: Los Angeles

    1127 ft · 17 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

    1.3 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  23. 23

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    9.4 mi · 11 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  24. 24

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    18 mi · 21 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  25. 25

    Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Freeway

    25.5 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway

  26. 26

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Golden State Freeway

  27. 27

    Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  28. 28

    Keep slight left

    36.1 mi · 42 min

  29. 29

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway

  30. 30

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    27.4 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway

  31. 31

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    6 mi · 7 min · Golden State Freeway

  32. 32

    Continue on Golden State Highway

    111.4 mi · 2 hr · Golden State Highway

  33. 33

    Take the exit slight right toward Avenue 7

    2522 ft · 31 sec

  34. 34

    Merge slight left

    21.4 mi · 24 min

  35. 35

    Keep slight right to continue on Northbound California State Route 99

    3.7 mi · 4 min · Northbound California State Route 99

  36. 36

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 233 West, Avenue 26

    1361 ft · 39 sec

  37. 37

    Turn left onto Avenue 26

    978 ft · 17 sec · Avenue 26

  38. 38

    Continue on East Robertson Boulevard

    2672 ft · 49 sec · East Robertson Boulevard

  39. 39

    Turn right onto North 2nd Street

    19 m · 3 sec · North 2nd Street

  40. 40

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North 2nd Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Chula Vista and Chowchilla.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
40 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
5 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Golden State Highway
111 mi · 29%
Golden State Freeway
83.3 mi · 22%
San Diego Freeway
60.9 mi · 16%
I 5 Truck North
37.7 mi · 10%
Santa Ana Freeway
30.4 mi · 8%
Avenue 7
21.9 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Golden State Highway

Continue on Golden State Highway

111 mi · 02h 00m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
07h 16m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
14h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+24.6 mi
358.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lebec
03h 38m from Chula Vista
Leave By
9:26 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Chula Vista and Sunny near Chowchilla.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Chula Vista to Chowchilla?

The road trip is about 382.8 miles (616.1 km) and usually takes 07h 16m 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?

Lebec is a useful midpoint, sitting about 191.6 miles from Chula Vista and 191.3 miles from Chowchilla.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 358.2 miles (576.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.6 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 $77.94 one way or $155.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 120.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Chula Vista and Sunny near Chowchilla.

Stop Ideas Near Lebec

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Lebec, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lebec.

BUS

Fillmore, California

50 mi away
718 West Ventura St.
BUS

Tehachapi, California

50 mi away
Westside of Mullbery Street
BUS

Santa Paula, California

58 mi away
245 South Palm Avenue
RAIL

Santa Clarita-Newhall, California

60 mi away
24300 Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chula Vista and Chowchilla. Straight-line distance: 358.19 mi (576.45 km).

Chula Vista

#1 Chula Vista

The second most populous city in San Diego County, California.

Population272,979
Coordinates32.6400500, -117.0842000
Altitude21
CountryUnited States
Chowchilla

#2 Chowchilla

City in Madera County, California, United States

Population18,153
Coordinates37.1230000, -120.2601800
Altitude73
CountryUnited States
Start: Chula Vista (-117.0842, 32.64005)
End: Chowchilla (-120.26018, 37.123)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 616 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)12h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 34m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 22m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 46m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
13.51 gal
51.14 L · about $77.94
Round trip
$155.88
27.02 gal · 102.28 L
Estimated CO2
120.1 kg one way
Round trip: 240.1 kg / 529 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $77.94 $155.88
Mid-grade $6.07 $81.95 $163.90
Premium $6.24 $84.34 $168.69
Diesel $7.57 $102.23 $204.46

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Chula Vista and Chowchilla. The current time is 07:09:21.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.