How far is Chula Vista, CA from Union City, CA?

The driving distance from Chula Vista, CA to Union City, CA is about 491.1 miles (790.3 km), with a travel time of about 09h 17m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 443.7 miles (714.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 34m 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
491.04 mi
09h 17m
Flight
443.73 mi
714.12 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
443.73 mi
Kilometers
714.12 km
Flight Time
00h 53m

Driving Distance

Road route
491.04 mi
Kilometers
790.25 km
Drive Time
09h 17m

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 17m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Union City
Sat, May 30, 1:55 AM PDT
Return by in Chula Vista
Sat, May 30, 11:12 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Chula Vista
2026-05-29T16:37
Arrive Union City
Sat, May 30, 1:55 AM PDT
Route Timing
09h 17m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
3:17 PM to 4:47 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
5:26 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

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
245.6 mi
04h 38m
To Union City
245.4 mi
04h 38m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
67°F
Friday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 29 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph W
Destination
69°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, May 29 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
12 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Chula Vista and Union City.

  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

    10.4 mi · 12 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

  35. 35

    Take the exit slight right toward Redwood Road

    1149 ft · 30 sec

  36. 36

    Turn left onto Redwood Road

    3104 ft · 1 min · Redwood Road

  37. 37

    Continue on A Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · A Street

  38. 38

    Turn left onto Mission Boulevard

    1735 ft · 44 sec · Mission Boulevard

  39. 39

    Turn slight right onto Jackson Street

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Jackson Street

  40. 40

    Take the exit slight right toward I 880 South: San Jose

    1935 ft · 27 sec

  41. 41

    Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Nimitz Freeway

  42. 42

    Keep slight right to continue on Nimitz Freeway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Nimitz Freeway

  43. 43

    Take the exit slight right toward Whipple Road, Dyer Street

    1823 ft · 46 sec

  44. 44

    Continue on Whipple Road

    1.2 km · 2 min · Whipple Road

  45. 45

    Turn left onto Union City Boulevard

    1.1 km · 1 min · Union City Boulevard

  46. 46

    Turn right onto Cambridge Way

    59 m · 11 sec · Cambridge Way

  47. 47

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Cambridge Way

Car Route Details

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

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
47 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
13
6 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
226 mi · 46%
San Diego Freeway
60.9 mi · 12%
Golden State Freeway
50 mi · 10%
I 5 Truck North
37.7 mi · 8%
Santa Ana Freeway
30.4 mi · 6%
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
28.3 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 17m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
18h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+47.4 mi
443.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Buttonwillow
04h 38m from Chula Vista
Leave By
5:26 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Chula Vista and Mostly Sunny near Union City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Chula Vista to Union City?

The road trip is about 491.1 miles (790.3 km) and usually takes 09h 17m 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 245.6 miles from Chula Vista and 245.4 miles from Union City.

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

The direct path is about 443.7 miles (714.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 47.4 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 $99.98 one way or $199.95 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 154 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Chula Vista and Mostly Sunny near Union City.

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 Union City. Straight-line distance: 443.73 mi (714.12 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
Union City

#2 Union City

A city in Placer County, California.

Population74,107
Coordinates37.5963232, -122.0816297
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Start: Chula Vista (-117.0842, 32.64005)
End: Union City (-122.08163, 37.596323)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 790 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)16h 21m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)12h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)09h 49m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)07h 00m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 07m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
17.33 gal
65.59 L · about $99.98
Round trip
$199.95
34.66 gal · 131.18 L
Estimated CO2
154 kg one way
Round trip: 308 kg / 679 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $99.98 $199.95
Mid-grade $6.07 $105.12 $210.25
Premium $6.24 $108.19 $216.38
Diesel $7.57 $131.14 $262.27

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 · May 29, 2026

There is no time difference between Chula Vista and Union City. The current time is 16:37:56.

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.