How far is Foster City, CA from Chula Vista, CA?
Fastest route
The distance between Foster City, California, and Chula Vista, California, is approximately 494 miles (795 kilometers). The fastest route is via I-5 S, and the estimated travel time is 7 hours and 34 minutes.
Directions
- 🚗 Head northwest on Shell Blvd toward E Hillsdale Blvd.
- 🚗 Use the left 2 lanes to turn left at the 1st cross street onto E Hillsdale Blvd.
- 🚗 Use the right lane to merge onto US-101 S via the ramp to San Jose.
- 🚗 Follow US-101 S to Leavesley Rd in Gilroy. Take exit 357 from US-101 S.
- 🚗 Take exit 357 for Leavesley Rd/CA-152 W toward Gilroy.
- 🚗 Get on I-5 S in Merced County from CA-152 E.
- 🚗 Continue on Ferguson Rd and use the right lane to merge onto I-5 S via the ramp to Los Angeles.
- 🚗 Follow I-5 S to N 4th Ave/Highland Ave in National City. Take exit 1 from CA-54 E.
- 🚗 Keep left to stay on I-5 S, follow signs for CA-60 E/Interstate 5 S/Soto St/Santa Ana.
- 🚗 Keep left to continue on I-805 S, follow signs for Interstate 805 S/Chula Vista.
- 🚗 Use the right 2 lanes to take exit 14 for CA-15 S toward CA-94 W/M L King Jr Fwy.
- 🚗 Take exit 1C on the left to merge onto I-5 S toward National City/Chula Vista.
- 🚗 Use the right 2 lanes to take exit 9 for CA-54 E.
- 🚗 Take exit 1 for Highland Ave/4th Ave.
- 🚗 Follow N 4th Ave to your destination in Chula Vista.
Tips & Suggestions
- 🛣️ Plan your trip ahead and check for any road closures or construction that may affect your route.
- ⛽ Make sure to refuel your vehicle before embarking on the journey, especially for long stretches between gas stations.
- 🍴 Pack some snacks and drinks to keep you energized and hydrated throughout the drive.
- 💤 Take regular breaks during the long drive to rest and avoid fatigue.
- 🚧 Be mindful of speed limits and other traffic regulations to ensure a safe trip.
- 📱 Use a navigation app or GPS device to stay on track and avoid getting lost.
- 🕶️ Don't forget your sunglasses, as the sun can be intense during a long drive.
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 18m.
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.
Place in Kern County California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Patchy Fog
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Foster City and Chula Vista.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Foster City and Chula Vista.
-
1
Start on Shell Boulevard
1321 ft · 33 sec · Shell Boulevard
-
2
Turn right onto Metro Center Boulevard
760 ft · 23 sec · Metro Center Boulevard
-
3
Turn left onto CA 92 East: San Mateo Bridge, Hayward
1419 ft · 19 sec
-
4
Merge slight left onto J Arthur Younger Freeway
11.9 mi · 14 min · J Arthur Younger Freeway
-
5
Continue on West Jackson Street
1.5 mi · 3 min · West Jackson Street
-
6
Continue on Foothill Boulevard
2503 ft · 1 min · Foothill Boulevard
-
7
Turn right onto A Street
1.2 km · 1 min · A Street
-
8
Continue on Redwood Road
2669 ft · 59 sec · Redwood Road
-
9
Take the ramp right toward I 580 East: Stockton
1451 ft · 37 sec
-
10
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
10.4 mi · 12 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
-
11
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
17.8 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
-
12
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
11.1 mi · 12 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
-
13
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
-
14
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
224.4 mi · 4 hr · Westside Freeway
-
15
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
-
16
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
-
17
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
-
18
Keep slight left
24.7 mi · 29 min
-
19
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
-
20
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway
-
21
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
-
22
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
1.3 km · 57 sec
-
23
Keep slight left
788 ft · 10 sec
-
24
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
981 ft · 13 sec
-
25
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 54 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
-
26
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 km · 52 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
-
27
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway
-
28
Take the exit slight right toward Newport Avenue
1.2 km · 1 min
-
29
Turn right onto Newport Avenue
1943 ft · 44 sec · Newport Avenue
-
30
Turn left onto Walnut Avenue
2.2 mi · 4 min · Walnut Avenue
-
31
Turn left onto Jamboree Road
2595 ft · 38 sec · Jamboree Road
-
32
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South
1479 ft · 21 sec
-
33
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
5.5 mi · 6 min · Santa Ana Freeway
-
34
Keep slight left to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 56 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
-
35
Merge slight right onto San Diego Freeway
62.4 mi · 1 hr 13 min · San Diego Freeway
-
36
Take the exit slight left
1.3 km · 55 sec
-
37
Continue on Jacob Dekema Freeway
18.6 mi · 21 min · Jacob Dekema Freeway
-
38
Take the exit slight right toward CA 54 East, CA 54 West
1234 ft · 30 sec
-
39
Keep slight right to continue on CA 54 West
1631 ft · 40 sec
-
40
Merge slight left onto South Bay Freeway
2230 ft · 27 sec · South Bay Freeway
-
41
Take the exit slight right toward Highland Avenue, 4th Avenue
1451 ft · 44 sec
-
42
Turn left onto Highland Avenue
1711 ft · 31 sec · Highland Avenue
-
43
Continue on 4th Avenue
1.5 km · 2 min · 4th Avenue
-
44
Turn right onto F Street
98 m · 34 sec · F Street
-
45
Continue on F Street
83 m · 5 sec · F Street
-
46
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · F Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Foster City and Chula Vista.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
224 mi · 04h 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.
Sunny leaving Foster City and Patchy Fog near Chula Vista.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Foster City to Chula Vista?
The road trip is about 508.9 miles (819 km) and usually takes 08h 18m 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 249.5 miles from Foster City and 259.4 miles from Chula Vista.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 448.7 miles (722.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 60.2 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 $103.61 one way or $207.22 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 159.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Foster City and Patchy Fog near Chula Vista.
Stop Ideas Near Buttonwillow
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 Buttonwillow.
Wasco station
Bakersfield
Corcoran station
Kettleman City, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Foster City and Chula Vista. Straight-line distance: 448.67 mi (722.07 km).
#1 Foster City
City in San Mateo County, California, United States
| Population | 33,901 |
| Coordinates | 37.5585500, -122.2710800 |
| Altitude | 2 |
| Country | United States |
#2 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 |
End: F Street (-117.084196, 32.640039)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 819 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 16h 57m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 12h 43m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 10m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 28m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 16m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 20m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $103.61 | $207.22 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $108.95 | $217.89 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $112.12 | $224.25 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $135.90 | $271.81 |
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 30, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.