How far is Lucerne, CA from San Diego, CA?
The driving distance from Lucerne, CA to San Diego, CA is about 326.3 miles (525.2 km), with a travel time of about 05h 38m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 290.4 miles (467.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 16m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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 05h 38m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Lucerne and San Diego.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lucerne and San Diego.
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1
Start on Elder Avenue
2801 ft · 2 min · Elder Avenue
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2
Turn right onto North 11th Avenue
1 mi · 3 min · North 11th Avenue
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3
Turn left onto Flint Avenue
1 mi · 2 min · Flint Avenue
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4
Turn right onto Central Valley Highway
3.9 mi · 6 min · Central Valley Highway
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5
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Central Valley Highway
41 m · 3 sec · Central Valley Highway
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6
Exit the roundabout onto Central Valley Highway
1657 ft · 30 sec · Central Valley Highway
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7
Take the ramp slight right
1188 ft · 29 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto George Alan Ingalls Memorial Highway
1 mi · 1 min · George Alan Ingalls Memorial Highway
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9
Continue on Lacey Boulevard
6 mi · 7 min · Lacey Boulevard
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10
Continue on Avenue 296
3.4 mi · 4 min · Avenue 296
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11
Take the exit slight right toward CA 99: Los Angeles, Sacramento
904 ft · 22 sec
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12
Keep slight right to continue on CA 99 South: Los Angeles
2612 ft · 1 min
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13
Merge slight left onto Golden State Highway
5.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Highway
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14
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Highway
58.6 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Golden State Highway
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15
Continue on Golden State Freeway
5.2 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway
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16
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
27.4 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway
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17
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
58.2 mi · 1 hr 7 min · Golden State Freeway
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18
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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20
Keep slight left
24.7 mi · 29 min
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21
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
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22
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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23
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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24
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
1.3 km · 57 sec
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25
Keep slight left
788 ft · 10 sec
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26
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
981 ft · 13 sec
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27
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 54 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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28
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 km · 52 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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29
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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30
Take the exit slight right toward Newport Avenue
1.2 km · 1 min
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31
Turn right onto Newport Avenue
1943 ft · 44 sec · Newport Avenue
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32
Turn left onto Walnut Avenue
2.2 mi · 4 min · Walnut Avenue
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33
Turn left onto Jamboree Road
2595 ft · 38 sec · Jamboree Road
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34
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South
1479 ft · 21 sec
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35
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
5.5 mi · 6 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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36
Keep slight left to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 56 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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37
Merge slight right onto San Diego Freeway
76.5 mi · 1 hr 29 min · San Diego Freeway
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38
Take the exit slight right toward Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
1164 ft · 28 sec
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39
Keep slight right to continue on Front Street, Civic Center
592 ft · 15 sec
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40
Continue on Front Street
2662 ft · 2 min · Front Street
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41
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Front Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Lucerne and San Diego.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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 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.
Sunny leaving Lucerne 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 Lucerne to San Diego?
The road trip is about 326.3 miles (525.2 km) and usually takes 05h 38m 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 Lucerne and 166 miles from San Diego.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 290.4 miles (467.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 35.9 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:44 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 Sunny around Lucerne and Sunny near San Diego.
Stop Ideas Near Val Verde
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 Val Verde.
Santa Clarita-Newhall, California
Simi Valley
Chatsworth station
Fillmore, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Lucerne and San Diego. Straight-line distance: 290.42 mi (467.38 km).
#1 Lucerne
Census-designated place in Lake County, California
| Population | 3,443 |
| Coordinates | 36.3807800, -119.6643000 |
| Altitude | 79 |
| 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: Front Street (-117.164717, 32.71571)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 525 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 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.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round 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 06, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.