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

The driving distance from Chula Vista, CA to Madera, CA is about 366.5 miles (589.8 km), with a travel time of about 06h 58m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 343 miles (552 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 56m 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
366.51 mi
06h 58m
Flight
342.97 mi
551.96 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
342.97 mi
Kilometers
551.96 km
Flight Time
00h 41m

Driving Distance

Road route
366.51 mi
Kilometers
589.84 km
Drive Time
06h 58m

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 06h 58m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Madera
Thu, Apr 16, 2:06 PM PDT
Return by in Chula Vista
Thu, Apr 16, 9:04 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chula Vista
2026-04-16T07:08
Arrive Madera
Thu, Apr 16, 2:06 PM PDT
Route Timing
06h 58m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:58 PM to 2:28 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
10:04 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
183.4 mi
03h 29m
To Madera
183.1 mi
03h 29m

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
70°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 Madera.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    8.8 mi · 10 min

  35. 35

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 145: Madera Avenue, Yosemite

    1335 ft · 33 sec

  36. 36

    Keep slight right to continue on CA 145: Madera Avenue, Yosemite

    75 m · 6 sec

  37. 37

    Continue on South Madera Avenue

    1025 ft · 18 sec · South Madera Avenue

  38. 38

    Continue on South Gateway Drive

    2104 ft · 42 sec · South Gateway Drive

  39. 39

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Gateway Drive

Car Route Details

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

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
39 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
5 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Golden State Highway
111 mi · 30%
Golden State Freeway
83.3 mi · 23%
San Diego Freeway
60.9 mi · 17%
I 5 Truck North
37.7 mi · 10%
Santa Ana Freeway
30.4 mi · 8%
Jacob Dekema Freeway
19.5 mi · 5%
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
06h 58m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.5 mi
343 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lebec
03h 29m from Chula Vista
Leave By
10:04 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Chula Vista and Sunny near Madera.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 366.5 miles (589.8 km) and usually takes 06h 58m 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 183.4 miles from Chula Vista and 183.1 miles from Madera.

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

The direct path is about 343 miles (552 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.5 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 $74.59 one way or $149.19 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 114.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Madera. Straight-line distance: 342.97 mi (551.96 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
Madera

#2 Madera

The most populous city in Madera County, California.

Population66,723
Coordinates36.9613400, -120.0607200
Altitude83
CountryUnited States
Start: Chula Vista (-117.0842, 32.64005)
End: Madera (-120.06072, 36.96134)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 590 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)12h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 09m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.93 gal
48.96 L · about $74.59
Round trip
$149.19
25.86 gal · 97.92 L
Estimated CO2
114.9 kg one way
Round trip: 229.8 kg / 507 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $74.59 $149.19
Mid-grade $6.07 $78.43 $156.87
Premium $6.24 $80.72 $161.44
Diesel $7.57 $97.84 $195.68

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 Madera. The current time is 07:08:24.

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.