How far is Occidental, CA from San Diego, CA?
The driving distance from Occidental, CA to San Diego, CA is about 566.1 miles (911.1 km), with a travel time of about 09h 33m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 510 miles (820.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 19h 07m 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 09h 33m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Census-designated place in Kern County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Rain
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Occidental and San Diego.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Occidental and San Diego.
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1
Start on Coleman Valley Road
50 m · 15 sec · Coleman Valley Road
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2
Turn left onto Bohemian Highway
108 m · 11 sec · Bohemian Highway
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3
Turn right onto Hill Street
49 m · 5 sec · Hill Street
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4
Turn slight left onto Occidental Road
6.6 mi · 16 min · Occidental Road
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5
Turn right onto Gravenstein Highway North
1.6 mi · 2 min · Gravenstein Highway North
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6
Continue on Healdsburg Avenue
2865 ft · 50 sec · Healdsburg Avenue
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7
Continue on North Main Street
1.3 km · 1 min · North Main Street
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8
Continue on Gravenstein Highway
7.6 mi · 11 min · Gravenstein Highway
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9
Take the ramp slight right toward US 101 South: San Francisco
1342 ft · 37 sec
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10
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
29.6 mi · 35 min · Redwood Highway
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11
Keep slight right to continue on John T. Knox Freeway
13.6 mi · 17 min · John T. Knox Freeway
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12
Merge slight left onto Eastshore Freeway
3.8 mi · 5 min · Eastshore Freeway
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13
Keep slight left to continue on Interstate Highway 80
1321 ft · 21 sec · Interstate Highway 80
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14
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
16.4 mi · 19 min · MacArthur Freeway
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15
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11.5 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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16
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
17.8 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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17
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
11.1 mi · 12 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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18
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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19
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
224.4 mi · 4 hr · Westside Freeway
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20
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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21
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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22
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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23
Keep slight left
24.7 mi · 29 min
-
24
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
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25
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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26
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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27
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
1.3 km · 57 sec
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28
Keep slight left
788 ft · 10 sec
-
29
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
981 ft · 13 sec
-
30
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 54 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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31
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 km · 52 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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32
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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33
Take the exit slight right toward Newport Avenue
1.2 km · 1 min
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34
Turn right onto Newport Avenue
1943 ft · 44 sec · Newport Avenue
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35
Turn left onto Walnut Avenue
2.2 mi · 4 min · Walnut Avenue
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36
Turn left onto Jamboree Road
2595 ft · 38 sec · Jamboree Road
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37
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South
1479 ft · 21 sec
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38
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
5.5 mi · 6 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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39
Keep slight left to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 56 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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40
Merge slight right onto San Diego Freeway
76.5 mi · 1 hr 29 min · San Diego Freeway
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41
Take the exit slight right toward Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
1164 ft · 28 sec
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42
Keep slight right to continue on Front Street, Civic Center
592 ft · 15 sec
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43
Continue on Front Street
2662 ft · 2 min · Front Street
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44
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Front Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Occidental 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
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.
Chance Rain leaving Occidental and Mostly Sunny near San Diego.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Occidental to San Diego?
The road trip is about 566.1 miles (911.1 km) and usually takes 09h 33m 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?
Lost Hills is a useful midpoint, sitting about 279.2 miles from Occidental and 286.9 miles from San Diego.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 510 miles (820.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 56.1 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 $115.26 one way or $230.53 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 177.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Rain around Occidental and Mostly Sunny near San Diego.
Stop Ideas Near Lost Hills
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 Lost Hills.
Wasco station
Kettleman City, California
Corcoran station
Bakersfield
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Occidental and San Diego. Straight-line distance: 509.98 mi (820.73 km).
#1 Occidental
Census-designated place in Sonoma County, California
| Population | 1,115 |
| Coordinates | 38.4074100, -122.9483300 |
| Altitude | 181 |
| 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: 911 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 18h 51m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 14h 09m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 11h 19m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 09h 26m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 08h 05m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 07h 03m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $115.26 | $230.53 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $121.20 | $242.40 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $124.74 | $249.47 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $151.19 | $302.38 |
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 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.