How far is Chula Vista, CA from Waterford, CA?
The driving distance from Chula Vista, CA to Waterford, CA is about 432.2 miles (695.6 km), with a travel time of about 08h 26m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 403.1 miles (648.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 52m 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 08h 26m.
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.
City in Kern County, California, United States
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 Waterford.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chula Vista and Waterford.
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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 left to continue on Golden State Freeway
27.4 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway
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31
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
6 mi · 7 min · Golden State Freeway
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32
Continue on Golden State Highway
111.4 mi · 2 hr · Golden State Highway
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33
Take the exit slight right toward Avenue 7
2522 ft · 31 sec
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34
Merge slight left
21.4 mi · 24 min
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35
Keep slight right to continue on Northbound California State Route 99
28.2 mi · 33 min · Northbound California State Route 99
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36
Take the exit slight right toward Atwater Boulevard
1940 ft · 47 sec
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37
Turn straight onto Atwater Boulevard
63 m · 7 sec · Atwater Boulevard
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38
Turn right onto Shaffer Road
2.3 mi · 4 min · Shaffer Road
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39
Turn left onto Santa Fe Drive
12.1 mi · 18 min · Santa Fe Drive
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40
Continue on Santa Fe Avenue
1701 ft · 35 sec · Santa Fe Avenue
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41
Turn sharp right onto East Avenue
1254 ft · 27 sec · East Avenue
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42
Turn left onto North Hickman Road
10.1 mi · 18 min · North Hickman Road
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43
Continue on F Street
970 ft · 20 sec · F Street
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44
Keep slight right to continue on F Street
14 m · 2 sec · F Street
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45
Turn right onto E Street
130 m · 24 sec · E Street
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46
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · E Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Chula Vista and Waterford.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
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 Waterford.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Chula Vista to Waterford?
The road trip is about 432.2 miles (695.6 km) and usually takes 08h 26m 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?
Arvin is a useful midpoint, sitting about 216.3 miles from Chula Vista and 215.9 miles from Waterford.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 403.1 miles (648.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 29.1 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 $87.98 one way or $175.95 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 135.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Chula Vista and Mostly Sunny near Waterford.
Stop Ideas Near Arvin
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 Arvin.
Bakersfield
Tehachapi, California
Mojave, California
Wasco station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Chula Vista and Waterford. Straight-line distance: 403.09 mi (648.71 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 Waterford
City in Stanislaus County, California, United States
| Population | 8,944 |
| Coordinates | 37.6413200, -120.7604800 |
| Altitude | 52 |
| Country | United States |
End: Waterford (-120.76048, 37.64132)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 696 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 14h 24m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 10h 48m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 08h 38m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 12m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 10m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 23m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $87.98 | $175.95 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $92.51 | $185.01 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $95.21 | $190.41 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $115.40 | $230.79 |
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 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.