How far is Los Angeles County, CA from San Diego, CA?
The driving distance from Los Angeles County, CA to San Diego, CA is about 134.3 miles (216.2 km), with a travel time of about 02h 45m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 120.4 miles (193.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 31m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
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 02h 45m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
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 Orange County, California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Los Angeles County and San Diego.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Angeles County and San Diego.
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1
Start on the route
548 ft · 1 min
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2
Continue on Eilinita Avenue
693 ft · 31 sec · Eilinita Avenue
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3
Continue on Eilinita Avenue
61 m · 11 sec · Eilinita Avenue
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4
Turn left onto Dolorita Avenue
896 ft · 41 sec · Dolorita Avenue
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5
Turn right onto Shirlyjean Street
641 ft · 32 sec · Shirlyjean Street
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6
At the end of the road, turn right onto La Crescenta Avenue
1.1 km · 1 min · La Crescenta Avenue
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7
Turn slight left onto Paloma Avenue
1046 ft · 46 sec · Paloma Avenue
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8
At the end of the road, turn left onto North Verdugo Road
2285 ft · 56 sec · North Verdugo Road
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9
Turn slight right
87 m · 13 sec
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10
Turn straight onto Verdugo Boulevard
1592 ft · 39 sec · Verdugo Boulevard
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11
Take the ramp right toward CA 2 South: Glendale
1249 ft · 31 sec
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12
Continue on Glendale Freeway
7.1 mi · 8 min · Glendale Freeway
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13
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Golden State Freeway, Los Angeles, Sacramento
663 ft · 9 sec
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14
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South: Golden State Freeway, Los Angeles
2018 ft · 27 sec
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15
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South: Los Angeles
2254 ft · 31 sec
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16
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South: Los Angeles
1371 ft · 18 sec
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17
Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway
4.7 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway
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18
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
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19
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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20
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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21
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
1.3 km · 57 sec
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22
Keep slight left
788 ft · 10 sec
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23
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
981 ft · 13 sec
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24
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 54 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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25
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 km · 52 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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26
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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27
Take the exit slight right toward Newport Avenue
1.2 km · 1 min
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28
Turn right onto Newport Avenue
1943 ft · 44 sec · Newport Avenue
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29
Turn left onto Walnut Avenue
2.2 mi · 4 min · Walnut Avenue
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30
Turn left onto Jamboree Road
2595 ft · 38 sec · Jamboree Road
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31
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South
1479 ft · 21 sec
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32
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
5.5 mi · 6 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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33
Keep slight left to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 56 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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34
Merge slight right onto San Diego Freeway
76.5 mi · 1 hr 29 min · San Diego Freeway
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35
Take the exit slight right toward Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
1164 ft · 28 sec
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36
Keep slight right to continue on Front Street, Civic Center
592 ft · 15 sec
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37
Continue on Front Street
2662 ft · 2 min · Front Street
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38
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Front Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Los Angeles County and San Diego.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
San Diego Freeway
Merge slight right onto San Diego Freeway
76.5 mi · 01h 29m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A comfortable day-trip route
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
Sunny leaving Los Angeles County and Sunny near San Diego.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Los Angeles County to San Diego?
The road trip is about 134.3 miles (216.2 km) and usually takes 02h 45m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
What is the halfway point on this route?
San Juan Capistrano is a useful midpoint, sitting about 67.2 miles from Los Angeles County and 67.1 miles from San Diego.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 120.4 miles (193.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 13.9 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:58 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.78 one way or $59.56 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 42.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Los Angeles County and Sunny near San Diego.
Stop Ideas Near San Juan Capistrano
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Blue Lantern Inn, A Four Sisters Inn
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel
City of Lake Forest
Laguna Niguel City Hall
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to San Juan Capistrano.
San Juan Capistrano
San Clemente Pier station
Irvine Transportation Center
Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Los Angeles County and San Diego. Straight-line distance: 120.34 mi (193.67 km).
#1 Los Angeles County
County in California, United States of America
| Population | 9,943,046 |
| Coordinates | 34.1980100, -118.2610200 |
| Altitude | 734 |
| Country | United States |
#2 San Diego
The eighth most populous city in the United States and the center of the San Diego metropolitan area.
| Population | 1,422,420 |
| Coordinates | 32.7157100, -117.1647200 |
| Altitude | 20 |
| Country | United States |
End: San Diego (-117.16472, 32.71571)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 216 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 04h 28m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 03h 21m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 02h 41m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 14m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 01h 55m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 01h 40m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.28 | $29.78 | $59.56 |
| Mid-grade | $6.51 | $30.87 | $61.74 |
| Premium | $6.71 | $31.78 | $63.56 |
| Diesel | $8.39 | $39.78 | $79.57 |
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 · Oct 14, 2026