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

The driving distance from San Diego, CA to Anderson, CA is about 652.4 miles (1050 km), with a travel time of about 12h 04m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 605.2 miles (973.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 24h 09m 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
652.46 mi
12h 04m
Flight
605.15 mi
973.89 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
605.15 mi
Kilometers
973.89 km
Flight Time
01h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
652.46 mi
Kilometers
1050.03 km
Drive Time
12h 04m

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 04m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Anderson
Thu, Apr 16, 7:53 AM PDT
Return by in San Diego
Thu, Apr 16, 7:58 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Diego
2026-04-15T19:49
Arrive Anderson
Thu, Apr 16, 7:53 AM PDT
Route Timing
12h 04m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
6:05 PM to 7:35 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
11:50 AM 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
Coalinga
CA

City in Fresno County, California, United States

From San Diego
326.5 mi
06h 02m
To Anderson
326 mi
06h 02m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SW
Destination
66°F
Wednesday

Chance Light Rain

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
2 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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 right to continue on Westside Freeway

    25.5 mi · 28 min · Westside Freeway

  28. 28

    Keep left to continue on Westside Freeway

    53.8 mi · 1 hr · Westside Freeway

  29. 29

    Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway

    120.9 mi · 2 hr 10 min · Westside Freeway

  30. 30

    Continue on Cascade Wonderland Highway

    20 mi · 21 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway

  31. 31

    Take the exit slight right toward Anderson, Deschutes Road, Factory Outlet Drive

    1.9 mi · 3 min

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
32 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
426 mi · 65%
San Diego Freeway
75.2 mi · 12%
Golden State Freeway
50 mi · 8%
I 5 Truck North
37.7 mi · 6%
Santa Ana Freeway
30.4 mi · 5%
Cascade Wonderland Highway
21.9 mi · 3%
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
12h 04m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
24h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+47.2 mi
605.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Coalinga
06h 02m from San Diego
Leave By
11:50 AM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving San Diego and Chance Light Rain near Anderson.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 652.4 miles (1050 km) and usually takes 12h 04m 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?

Coalinga is a useful midpoint, sitting about 326.5 miles from San Diego and 326 miles from Anderson.

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

The direct path is about 605.2 miles (973.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 47.2 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 $132.80 one way or $265.60 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 204.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Diego and Chance Light Rain near Anderson.

Stop Ideas Near Coalinga

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

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

BUS

Kettleman City, California

40 mi away
3300 Hubert Way
BUS

Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California

49 mi away
25th Ave and Highway 198
BUS

Lemoore, California

53 mi away
300 E Street
RAIL

Paso Robles station

65 mi away
800 Pine Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and Anderson. Straight-line distance: 605.15 mi (973.89 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
Anderson

#2 Anderson

City in Shasta County, California, USA

Population10,565
Coordinates40.4482100, -122.2977800
Altitude132
CountryUnited States
Start: San Diego (-117.16472, 32.71571)
End: Anderson (-122.29778, 40.44821)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 1050 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)21h 44m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)16h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)13h 02m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)10h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)09h 19m
80 mph (129 km/h)08h 08m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
23.02 gal
87.15 L · about $132.80
Round trip
$265.60
46.04 gal · 174.3 L
Estimated CO2
204.6 kg one way
Round trip: 409.2 kg / 902 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $132.80 $265.60
Mid-grade $6.07 $139.64 $279.28
Premium $6.24 $143.71 $287.43
Diesel $7.57 $174.19 $348.38

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between San Diego and Anderson. The current time is 19:49:06.

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.