How far is Montague, CA from San Diego, CA?
The driving distance from Montague, CA to San Diego, CA is about 764 miles (1229.5 km), with a travel time of about 12h 22m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 688.7 miles (1108.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 24h 45m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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 12h 22m.
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.
The county seat of Merced County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Widespread Frost then Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Montague and San Diego.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Montague and San Diego.
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1
Start on West Webb Street
11 m · 4 sec · West Webb Street
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2
Turn right onto South 11th Street
1495 ft · 30 sec · South 11th Street
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3
Continue on Montague Grenada Road
5.7 mi · 10 min · Montague Grenada Road
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4
Turn right onto 99-97 Cutoff
1.4 km · 2 min · 99-97 Cutoff
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5
Take the ramp left
1222 ft · 30 sec
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6
Merge slight left onto Cascade Wonderland Highway
83.7 mi · 1 hr 35 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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7
Keep slight left to continue on Cascade Wonderland Highway
35.5 mi · 39 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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8
Continue on Westside Freeway
93 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Westside Freeway
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9
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
15.7 mi · 17 min · Westside Freeway
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10
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
78.8 mi · 1 hr 28 min · Westside Freeway
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11
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
1.2 km · 49 sec · Westside Freeway
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12
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
236.6 mi · 4 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
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13
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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14
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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15
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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16
Keep slight left
24.7 mi · 29 min
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17
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
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18
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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20
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
1.3 km · 57 sec
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21
Keep slight left
788 ft · 10 sec
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22
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
981 ft · 13 sec
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23
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 54 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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24
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 km · 52 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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25
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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26
Take the exit slight right toward Newport Avenue
1.2 km · 1 min
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27
Turn right onto Newport Avenue
1943 ft · 44 sec · Newport Avenue
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28
Turn left onto Walnut Avenue
2.2 mi · 4 min · Walnut Avenue
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29
Turn left onto Jamboree Road
2595 ft · 38 sec · Jamboree Road
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30
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South
1479 ft · 21 sec
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31
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
5.5 mi · 6 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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32
Keep slight left to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 56 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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33
Merge slight right onto San Diego Freeway
76.5 mi · 1 hr 29 min · San Diego Freeway
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34
Take the exit slight right toward Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
1164 ft · 28 sec
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35
Keep slight right to continue on Front Street, Civic Center
592 ft · 15 sec
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36
Continue on Front Street
2662 ft · 2 min · Front Street
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37
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Front Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Montague and San Diego.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
237 mi · 04h 14m
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.
Widespread Frost then Sunny leaving Montague 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 Montague to San Diego?
The road trip is about 764 miles (1229.5 km) and usually takes 12h 22m 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?
Los Banos is a useful midpoint, sitting about 379 miles from Montague and 385.1 miles from San Diego.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 688.7 miles (1108.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 75.3 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 $155.53 one way or $311.06 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 239.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Widespread Frost then Sunny around Montague and Sunny near San Diego.
Stop Ideas Near Los Banos
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 Los Banos.
Merced station
Denair station
Gilroy, California
Modesto station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Montague and San Diego. Straight-line distance: 688.7 mi (1108.36 km).
#1 Montague
City in Siskiyou County, California, United States
| Population | 1,366 |
| Coordinates | 41.7282000, -122.5278000 |
| Altitude | 774 |
| 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: 1230 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 25h 27m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 19h 06m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 15h 16m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 12h 43m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 10h 54m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 09h 31m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $155.53 | $311.06 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $163.54 | $327.08 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $168.31 | $336.62 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $204.01 | $408.01 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.