How far is San Diego, CA from Alamo, CA?

The driving distance from San Diego, CA to Alamo, CA is about 479.8 miles (772.1 km), with a travel time of about 08h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 448.4 miles (721.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 59m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
479.75 mi
08h 59m
Flight
448.42 mi
721.66 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from San Diego.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
448.42 mi
Kilometers
721.66 km
Flight Time
00h 54m

Driving Distance

Road route
479.75 mi
Kilometers
772.09 km
Drive Time
08h 59m

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 08h 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Alamo
Sun, Apr 12, 1:22 AM PDT
Return by in San Diego
Sun, Apr 12, 10:22 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Diego
2026-04-11T16:23
Arrive Alamo
Sun, Apr 12, 1:22 AM PDT
Route Timing
08h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM PDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
6:00 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in San Diego
8:00 PM PDT
Overnight-style route

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
Buttonwillow
CA

Place in Kern County California

From San Diego
240 mi
04h 29m
To Alamo
239.8 mi
04h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph W
Destination
55°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
12 to 18 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between San Diego and Alamo.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and Alamo.

  1. 1

    Start on Front Street

    8 m · 6 sec · Front Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West Broadway

    88 m · 12 sec · West Broadway

  3. 3

    Turn left onto 1st Avenue

    3072 ft · 1 min · 1st Avenue

  4. 4

    Take the ramp left toward I 5 North: Los Angeles

    1017 ft · 25 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway

    13.5 mi · 16 min · San Diego Freeway

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on San Diego Freeway

    36.3 mi · 43 min · San Diego Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway

    18.1 mi · 21 min · San Diego Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on San Diego Freeway

    7.4 mi · 9 min · San Diego Freeway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Bake Parkway

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right

    6 mi · 7 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward Jamboree Road

    1266 ft · 17 sec

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    527 ft · 11 sec

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Jamboree Road

    760 ft · 18 sec · Jamboree Road

  14. 14

    Turn left onto El Camino Real

    2.2 mi · 5 min · El Camino Real

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Newport Avenue

    109 m · 14 sec · Newport Avenue

  16. 16

    Take the ramp right toward I 5 North: Los Angeles

    1127 ft · 17 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

    1.3 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  19. 19

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    9.4 mi · 11 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    18 mi · 21 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  21. 21

    Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Freeway

    25.5 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Golden State Freeway

  23. 23

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

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  24. 24

    Keep slight left

    36.1 mi · 42 min

  25. 25

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway

  26. 26

    Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway

    225.6 mi · 4 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway

  27. 27

    Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway

    15.9 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

  28. 28

    Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

  29. 29

    Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

    18 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

  30. 30

    Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

  31. 31

    Take the exit slight right toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek

    857 ft · 16 sec

  32. 32

    Keep slight right to continue on I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento

    1614 ft · 30 sec

  33. 33

    Merge slight left onto Donald D Doyle Highway

    11.9 mi · 14 min · Donald D Doyle Highway

  34. 34

    Take the exit slight right toward Stone Valley Road West

    1296 ft · 33 sec

  35. 35

    Turn right onto Stone Valley Road

    1482 ft · 46 sec · Stone Valley Road

  36. 36

    Turn left onto Danville Boulevard

    34 m · 8 sec · Danville Boulevard

  37. 37

    Turn left

    92 m · 22 sec

  38. 38

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between San Diego and Alamo.

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
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
226 mi · 47%
San Diego Freeway
75.2 mi · 16%
Golden State Freeway
50 mi · 10%
I 5 Truck North
37.7 mi · 8%
Santa Ana Freeway
30.4 mi · 6%
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
19.6 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Westside Freeway

Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway

226 mi · 04h 02m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
08h 59m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
18h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+31.4 mi
448.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Buttonwillow
04h 29m from San Diego
Leave By
6:00 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny leaving San Diego and Showers And Thunderstorms near Alamo.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Alamo?

The road trip is about 479.8 miles (772.1 km) and usually takes 08h 59m 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?

Buttonwillow is a useful midpoint, sitting about 240 miles from San Diego and 239.8 miles from Alamo.

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

The direct path is about 448.4 miles (721.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 31.4 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 $97.67 one way or $195.34 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 150.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny around San Diego and Showers And Thunderstorms near Alamo.

Stop Ideas Near Buttonwillow

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Buttonwillow, 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 Buttonwillow.

RAIL

Wasco station

25 mi away
700 G Street
RAIL

Bakersfield

41 mi away
601 Truxtun Ave
RAIL

Corcoran station

78 mi away
1099 Otis Ave.
BUS

Kettleman City, California

79 mi away
3300 Hubert Way

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and Alamo. Straight-line distance: 448.42 mi (721.66 km).

San Diego

#1 San Diego

The eighth most populous city in the United States and the center of the San Diego metropolitan area.

Population1,422,420
Coordinates32.7157100, -117.1647200
Altitude20
CountryUnited States
Alamo

#2 Alamo

Census designated place in California, United States

Population14,570
Coordinates37.8502000, -122.0321800
Altitude79
CountryUnited States
Start: San Diego (-117.16472, 32.71571)
End: Alamo (-122.03218, 37.8502)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 772 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)15h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)11h 59m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)09h 35m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 59m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 51m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 59m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
16.93 gal
64.08 L · about $97.67
Round trip
$195.34
33.86 gal · 128.16 L
Estimated CO2
150.5 kg one way
Round trip: 300.9 kg / 663 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $97.67 $195.34
Mid-grade $6.07 $102.70 $205.39
Premium $6.24 $105.69 $211.39
Diesel $7.57 $128.11 $256.22

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 11, 2026

There is no time difference between San Diego and Alamo. The current time is 16:23:10.

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.