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

The driving distance from San Diego, CA to Blythe, CA is about 216.6 miles (348.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 160.9 miles (258.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 13m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
216.6 mi
04h 06m
Flight
160.89 mi
258.93 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
160.89 mi
Kilometers
258.93 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
216.6 mi
Kilometers
348.58 km
Drive Time
04h 06m

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 04h 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Blythe
Sat, Apr 11, 8:35 AM PDT
Return by in San Diego
Sat, Apr 11, 12:42 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Diego
2026-04-11T04:28
Arrive Blythe
Sat, Apr 11, 8:35 AM PDT
Route Timing
04h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:07 AM to 12:07 PM PDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:46 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in San Diego
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

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
Seeley
CA

Census-designated place in Imperial County, California

From San Diego
108.2 mi
02h 03m
To Blythe
108.4 mi
02h 03m

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
54°F
Saturday Night

Patchy Blowing Dust then Mostly Clear

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 11:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Front Street

    8 m · 6 sec · Front Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West Broadway

    1.4 km · 2 min · West Broadway

  3. 3

    Turn right onto 16th Street

    1136 ft · 34 sec · 16th Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto G Street

    85 m · 10 sec · G Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Martin Luther King Junior Freeway

    8.2 mi · 9 min · Martin Luther King Junior Freeway

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on Martin Luther King Junior Freeway

    1932 ft · 25 sec · Martin Luther King Junior Freeway

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    2 mi · 2 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 8 East

    3267 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Mission Valley Freeway

    6.9 mi · 8 min · Mission Valley Freeway

  10. 10

    Continue on Kumeyaay Highway

    96.5 mi · 1 hr 45 min · Kumeyaay Highway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 111 North: Brawley

    1134 ft · 28 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    14.3 mi · 17 min

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Ben Hulse Highway

    5.5 mi · 6 min · Ben Hulse Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on Ben Hulse Highway

    63.9 mi · 1 hr 14 min · Ben Hulse Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on 32nd Avenue

    1.3 mi · 2 min · 32nd Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Rannells Boulevard

    2 mi · 2 min · Rannells Boulevard

  17. 17

    Turn right onto 28th Avenue

    3 mi · 4 min · 28th Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left onto South Neighbours Boulevard

    6.8 mi · 8 min · South Neighbours Boulevard

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right

    1569 ft · 38 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward Lovekin Boulevard

    1677 ft · 47 sec

  22. 22

    Turn left onto South Lovekin Boulevard

    1330 ft · 32 sec · South Lovekin Boulevard

  23. 23

    Turn right onto West Hobsonway

    2789 ft · 1 min · West Hobsonway

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Hobsonway

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
24 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Kumeyaay Highway
96.5 mi · 45%
Ben Hulse Highway
69.4 mi · 32%
CA 111 North
14.5 mi · 7%
Martin Luther King Junior Freeway
10.5 mi · 5%
South Neighbours Boulevard
7.07 mi · 3%
Mission Valley Freeway
6.88 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Kumeyaay Highway

Continue on Kumeyaay Highway

96.5 mi · 01h 45m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
04h 06m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+55.7 mi
160.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Seeley
02h 03m from San Diego
Leave By
8:46 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny leaving San Diego and Patchy Blowing Dust then Mostly Clear near Blythe.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 216.6 miles (348.6 km) and usually takes 04h 06m 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?

Seeley is a useful midpoint, sitting about 108.2 miles from San Diego and 108.4 miles from Blythe.

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

The direct path is about 160.9 miles (258.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 55.7 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 8:46 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $44.08 one way or $88.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 67.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny around San Diego and Patchy Blowing Dust then Mostly Clear near Blythe.

Stop Ideas Near Seeley

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Seeley and the surrounding midpoint area.
Hampton Inn El Centro
Stay option 5.4 mi away

Hampton Inn El Centro

El Centro , CA
598 E Wake Ave, El Centro, CA 92243, United States
Rating 4.3/5 354 reviews Hotel
Desert Trails RV Park
Scenic stop 4.7 mi away

Desert Trails RV Park

El Centro , CA
225 Wake Ave, El Centro, CA 92243, United States
Rating 4.3/5 159 reviews RV park
Stop photo coming soon
Meeting point 5.9 mi away

City of Imperial

Imperial , CA
420 S Imperial Ave, Imperial, CA 92251, United States
Rating 4.3/5 3 reviews City government office,Chamber of Commerce
Community Center
Nearby stop 5 mi away

Community Center

El Centro , CA
375 S 1st St, El Centro, CA 92243, United States
Rating 4.6/5 42 reviews Community center

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Seeley.

RAIL

Yuma

101 mi away
281 Gila Street
BUS

Indio, California

114 mi away
NE Corner Hywy-111 and Monroe Street
BUS

La Quinta, CA

116 mi away
78822 Highway 111

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and Blythe. Straight-line distance: 160.89 mi (258.93 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
Blythe

#2 Blythe

City in California

Population19,673
Coordinates33.6103000, -114.5963500
Altitude83
CountryUnited States
Start: San Diego (-117.16472, 32.71571)
End: Blythe (-114.59635, 33.6103)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 349 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 05m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 42m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.64 gal
28.93 L · about $44.08
Round trip
$88.15
15.28 gal · 57.86 L
Estimated CO2
67.9 kg one way
Round trip: 135.8 kg / 299 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $44.08 $88.15
Mid-grade $6.07 $46.34 $92.69
Premium $6.24 $47.70 $95.39
Diesel $7.57 $57.81 $115.62

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 Blythe. The current time is 04:28:36.

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.