How far is Coalinga, CA from San Diego, CA?

The driving distance from Coalinga, CA to San Diego, CA is about 326.5 miles (525.5 km), with a travel time of about 05h 04m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 298.5 miles (480.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 09m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
326.51 mi
05h 04m
Flight
298.51 mi
480.4 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Coalinga.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
298.51 mi
Kilometers
480.4 km
Flight Time
00h 36m

Driving Distance

Road route
326.51 mi
Kilometers
525.47 km
Drive Time
05h 04m

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 05h 04m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in San Diego
Sun, May 17, 12:50 PM PDT
Return by in Coalinga
Sun, May 17, 5:54 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Coalinga
2026-05-17T07:45
Arrive San Diego
Sun, May 17, 12:50 PM PDT
Route Timing
05h 04m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:05 AM to 1:05 PM PDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:50 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Coalinga
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

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
Val Verde
CA

Census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California

From Coalinga
160.4 mi
02h 32m
To San Diego
166 mi
02h 32m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
56°F
Overnight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Sun, May 17 2:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 mph WSW
Destination
59°F
Overnight

Patchy Drizzle

Starts
Sun, May 17 2:00 AM PDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Coalinga and San Diego.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Coalinga and San Diego.

  1. 1

    Start on North 5th Street

    1887 ft · 32 sec · North 5th Street

  2. 2

    Continue on East Polk Street

    1 km · 57 sec · East Polk Street

  3. 3

    Continue on West Jayne Avenue

    10.1 mi · 17 min · West Jayne Avenue

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight right

    1864 ft · 46 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

    103.1 mi · 1 hr 50 min · Westside Freeway

  6. 6

    Keep slight right

    58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South

    1354 ft · 18 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    24.7 mi · 29 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

    25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana

    1.3 km · 57 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    788 ft · 10 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South

    981 ft · 13 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

    1.3 km · 54 sec · Santa Ana Freeway

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    1.2 km · 52 sec · Santa Ana Freeway

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward Newport Avenue

    1.2 km · 1 min

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Newport Avenue

    1943 ft · 44 sec · Newport Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Walnut Avenue

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Walnut Avenue

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Jamboree Road

    2595 ft · 38 sec · Jamboree Road

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South

    1479 ft · 21 sec

  24. 24

    Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

    5.5 mi · 6 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  25. 25

    Keep slight left to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    1.3 km · 56 sec · Santa Ana Freeway

  26. 26

    Merge slight right onto San Diego Freeway

    76.5 mi · 1 hr 29 min · San Diego Freeway

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right toward Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue

    1164 ft · 28 sec

  28. 28

    Keep slight right to continue on Front Street, Civic Center

    592 ft · 15 sec

  29. 29

    Continue on Front Street

    2662 ft · 2 min · Front Street

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Front Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Coalinga and San Diego.

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
30 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
5 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
161 mi · 49%
San Diego Freeway
76.5 mi · 23%
Santa Ana Freeway
35 mi · 11%
I 405 South
25 mi · 8%
West Jayne Avenue
10.5 mi · 3%
Golden State Freeway
5.33 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Westside Freeway

Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

103 mi · 01h 50m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 04m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+28 mi
298.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Val Verde
02h 32m from Coalinga
Leave By
6:50 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Clear leaving Coalinga and Patchy Drizzle near San Diego.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Coalinga to San Diego?

The road trip is about 326.5 miles (525.5 km) and usually takes 05h 04m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Val Verde is a useful midpoint, sitting about 160.4 miles from Coalinga and 166 miles from San Diego.

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

The direct path is about 298.5 miles (480.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 28 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 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:50 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $66.46 one way or $132.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 102.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Clear around Coalinga and Patchy Drizzle near San Diego.

Stop Ideas Near Val Verde

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

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

RAIL

Santa Clarita-Newhall, California

14 mi away
24300 Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Simi Valley

20 mi away
5050 Los Angeles Avenue
RAIL

Chatsworth station

22 mi away
10040 Old Depot Plaza Road
BUS

Fillmore, California

24 mi away
718 West Ventura St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Coalinga and San Diego. Straight-line distance: 298.51 mi (480.4 km).

Coalinga

#1 Coalinga

City in Fresno County, California, United States

Population17,591
Coordinates36.1396800, -120.3601500
Altitude205
CountryUnited States
San Diego

#2 San Diego

The eighth most populous city in the United States and the center of the San Diego metropolitan area.

Population1,422,420
Coordinates32.7157100, -117.1647200
Altitude20
CountryUnited States
Start: North 5th Street (-120.360168, 36.139661)
End: Front Street (-117.164717, 32.71571)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 525 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 09m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 31m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 04m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.52 gal
43.61 L · about $66.46
Round trip
$132.92
23.04 gal · 87.22 L
Estimated CO2
102.4 kg one way
Round trip: 204.8 kg / 452 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $66.46 $132.92
Mid-grade $6.07 $69.88 $139.76
Premium $6.24 $71.92 $143.84
Diesel $7.57 $87.17 $174.34

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Coalinga and San Diego. The current time is 07:45:12.

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.