How far is Chula Vista, CA from San Anselmo, CA?

The driving distance from Chula Vista, CA to San Anselmo, CA is about 520.7 miles (838 km), with a travel time of about 09h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 480.7 miles (773.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 19h 44m 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
520.68 mi
09h 52m
Flight
480.67 mi
773.56 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
480.67 mi
Kilometers
773.56 km
Flight Time
00h 58m

Driving Distance

Road route
520.68 mi
Kilometers
837.95 km
Drive Time
09h 52m

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 09h 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in San Anselmo
Fri, Apr 17, 3:14 PM PDT
Return by in Chula Vista
Sat, Apr 18, 1:06 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chula Vista
2026-04-17T05:22
Arrive San Anselmo
Fri, Apr 17, 3:14 PM PDT
Route Timing
09h 52m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
3:52 PM to 5:22 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
4:16 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

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.

Mid-route stop
Buttonwillow
CA

Place in Kern County California

From Chula Vista
260.4 mi
04h 56m
To San Anselmo
260.2 mi
04h 56m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SW
Destination
72°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
6 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chula Vista and San Anselmo.

  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 right to continue on Westside Freeway

    225.6 mi · 4 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway

  31. 31

    Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway

    15.9 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

  32. 32

    Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

  33. 33

    Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

    18 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

  34. 34

    Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

    11.6 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

  35. 35

    Keep slight right to continue on MacArthur Freeway

    8.3 mi · 10 min · MacArthur Freeway

  36. 36

    Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway

    8.3 mi · 10 min · MacArthur Freeway

  37. 37

    Continue on Eastshore Freeway

    3.3 mi · 4 min · Eastshore Freeway

  38. 38

    Keep slight right to continue on John T. Knox Freeway

    12.9 mi · 17 min · John T. Knox Freeway

  39. 39

    Keep slight left to continue on US 101 North: San Rafeal

    1.1 km · 54 sec

  40. 40

    Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway

    2148 ft · 33 sec · Redwood Highway

  41. 41

    Take the exit slight right toward Central San Rafael

    1526 ft · 39 sec

  42. 42

    Continue on Irwin Street

    654 ft · 21 sec · Irwin Street

  43. 43

    Turn left onto Fourth Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Fourth Street

  44. 44

    Continue on Red Hill Avenue

    3102 ft · 56 sec · Red Hill Avenue

  45. 45

    Turn left onto Sir Francis Drake Boulevard

    1095 ft · 40 sec · Sir Francis Drake Boulevard

  46. 46

    Turn right onto North Pine Street

    28 m · 4 sec · North Pine Street

  47. 47

    Turn right onto San Anselmo Avenue

    66 m · 9 sec · San Anselmo Avenue

  48. 48

    Turn right onto Tunstead Avenue

    36 m · 4 sec · Tunstead Avenue

  49. 49

    Turn left onto Sir Francis Drake Boulevard

    59 m · 14 sec · Sir Francis Drake Boulevard

  50. 50

    Turn right

    9 m · 2 sec

  51. 51

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
51 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
6 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
226 mi · 43%
San Diego Freeway
60.9 mi · 12%
Golden State Freeway
50 mi · 10%
I 5 Truck North
37.7 mi · 7%
Santa Ana Freeway
30.4 mi · 6%
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
29.6 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

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.

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
09h 52m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
19h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+40 mi
480.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Buttonwillow
04h 56m from Chula Vista
Leave By
4:16 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Chula Vista and Sunny near San Anselmo.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Chula Vista to San Anselmo?

The road trip is about 520.7 miles (838 km) and usually takes 09h 52m 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?

Buttonwillow is a useful midpoint, sitting about 260.4 miles from Chula Vista and 260.2 miles from San Anselmo.

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

The direct path is about 480.7 miles (773.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 40 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 $105.98 one way or $211.95 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 163.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Chula Vista and Sunny near San Anselmo.

Stop Ideas Near Buttonwillow

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Buttonwillow, 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 Buttonwillow.

RAIL

Wasco station

25 mi away
700 G Street
RAIL

Bakersfield

41 mi away
601 Truxtun Ave
RAIL

Corcoran station

78 mi away
1099 Otis Ave.
BUS

Kettleman City, California

79 mi away
3300 Hubert Way

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Chula Vista and San Anselmo. Straight-line distance: 480.67 mi (773.56 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
San Anselmo

#2 San Anselmo

Town in California

Population12,513
Coordinates37.9746500, -122.5616400
Altitude14
CountryUnited States
Start: Chula Vista (-117.0842, 32.64005)
End: San Anselmo (-122.56164, 37.97465)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 838 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)17h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)13h 01m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)10h 24m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 40m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)07h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
18.37 gal
69.55 L · about $105.98
Round trip
$211.95
36.74 gal · 139.1 L
Estimated CO2
163.3 kg one way
Round trip: 326.5 kg / 720 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $105.98 $211.95
Mid-grade $6.07 $111.43 $222.86
Premium $6.24 $114.68 $229.37
Diesel $7.57 $139.01 $278.01

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Chula Vista and San Anselmo. The current time is 05:22:25.

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.