How far is Imperial Beach, CA from Fresno, CA?

The driving distance from Imperial Beach, CA to Fresno, CA is about 357.4 miles (575.1 km), with a travel time of about 05h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 324.9 miles (522.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 12m 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
357.37 mi
05h 36m
Flight
324.93 mi
522.92 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Imperial Beach.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
324.93 mi
Kilometers
522.92 km
Flight Time
00h 39m

Driving Distance

Road route
357.37 mi
Kilometers
575.13 km
Drive Time
05h 36m

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 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Fresno
Fri, Apr 17, 9:28 AM PDT
Return by in Imperial Beach
Fri, Apr 17, 3:05 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Imperial Beach
2026-04-17T03:52
Arrive Fresno
Fri, Apr 17, 9:28 AM PDT
Route Timing
05h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:36 AM to 1:36 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
5:48 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Imperial Beach
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

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
Val Verde
CA

Census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California

From Imperial Beach
176.2 mi
02h 48m
To Fresno
181.2 mi
02h 48m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Imperial Beach Weather
CA
Live fallback forecast
69°F
Friday
Using Chula Vista as the closest live forecast in the San Diego County weather hub.

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SW
Destination
75°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Imperial Beach and Fresno.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Imperial Beach and Fresno.

  1. 1

    Start on Palm Avenue

    114 m · 16 sec · Palm Avenue

  2. 2

    Continue on Palm Avenue

    1.3 mi · 3 min · Palm Avenue

  3. 3

    Take the exit straight toward I 5: San Diego

    117 m · 9 sec

  4. 4

    Keep slight left to continue on I 5 North: San Diego

    2667 ft · 1 min

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto John J. Montgomery Freeway

    10.4 mi · 11 min · John J. Montgomery Freeway

  6. 6

    Continue on San Diego Freeway

    14.9 mi · 17 min · San Diego Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on San Diego Freeway

    36.3 mi · 43 min · San Diego Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway

    18.1 mi · 21 min · San Diego Freeway

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on San Diego Freeway

    7.4 mi · 9 min · San Diego Freeway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Bake Parkway

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right

    6 mi · 7 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward Jamboree Road

    1266 ft · 17 sec

  13. 13

    Continue straight

    527 ft · 11 sec

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Jamboree Road

    760 ft · 18 sec · Jamboree Road

  15. 15

    Turn left onto El Camino Real

    2.2 mi · 5 min · El Camino Real

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Newport Avenue

    109 m · 14 sec · Newport Avenue

  17. 17

    Take the ramp right toward I 5 North: Los Angeles

    1127 ft · 17 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

    1.3 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  19. 19

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    9.4 mi · 11 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  21. 21

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    18 mi · 21 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  22. 22

    Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Freeway

    25.5 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway

  23. 23

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Golden State Freeway

  24. 24

    Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  25. 25

    Keep slight left

    36.1 mi · 42 min

  26. 26

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway

  27. 27

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    27.4 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway

  28. 28

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    6 mi · 7 min · Golden State Freeway

  29. 29

    Continue on Golden State Highway

    98.2 mi · 1 hr 45 min · Golden State Highway

  30. 30

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 41 North: Yosemite

    1.1 km · 1 min

  31. 31

    Merge slight left onto Yosemite Freeway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Yosemite Freeway

  32. 32

    Continue on Dwight David Eisenhower Memorial Freeway

    1042 ft · 14 sec · Dwight David Eisenhower Memorial Freeway

  33. 33

    Take the exit slight right toward Tulare Street

    1517 ft · 41 sec

  34. 34

    Turn right onto East Tulare Avenue

    1069 ft · 25 sec · East Tulare Avenue

  35. 35

    Turn left onto North 1st Street

    119 m · 16 sec · North 1st Street

  36. 36

    Continue on North First Street

    1320 ft · 32 sec · North First Street

  37. 37

    Turn right onto East Washington Avenue

    9 m · 1 sec · East Washington Avenue

  38. 38

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Washington Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Imperial Beach and Fresno.

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
38 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Golden State Highway
98.2 mi · 27%
Golden State Freeway
83.3 mi · 23%
San Diego Freeway
76.6 mi · 21%
I 5 Truck North
37.7 mi · 11%
Santa Ana Freeway
30.4 mi · 9%
John J. Montgomery Freeway
10.4 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Golden State Highway

Continue on Golden State Highway

98.2 mi · 01h 45m

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 36m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+32.5 mi
324.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Val Verde
02h 48m from Imperial Beach
Leave By
5:48 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Imperial Beach and Sunny near Fresno.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Imperial Beach to Fresno?

The road trip is about 357.4 miles (575.1 km) and usually takes 05h 36m 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 176.2 miles from Imperial Beach and 181.2 miles from Fresno.

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

The direct path is about 324.9 miles (522.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.5 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 5:48 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $72.75 one way or $145.49 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 112.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Imperial Beach and Sunny near Fresno.

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 Imperial Beach and Fresno. Straight-line distance: 324.93 mi (522.92 km).

Imperial Beach

#1 Imperial Beach

City in California, USA

Population27,325
Coordinates32.5839400, -117.1130800
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Fresno

#2 Fresno

The fifth most populous city in California and the center of the Fresno metropolitan area.

Population530,267
Coordinates36.7477300, -119.7723700
Altitude94
CountryUnited States
Start: Palm Avenue (-117.113079, 32.583995)
End: East Washington Avenue (-119.77237, 36.747738)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 575 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 54m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 57m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.61 gal
47.74 L · about $72.75
Round trip
$145.49
25.22 gal · 95.48 L
Estimated CO2
112.1 kg one way
Round trip: 224.1 kg / 494 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $72.75 $145.49
Mid-grade $6.07 $76.49 $152.98
Premium $6.24 $78.72 $157.45
Diesel $7.57 $95.42 $190.84

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 Imperial Beach and Fresno. The current time is 03:52:28.

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.