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

The driving distance from San Diego, CA to Castroville, CA is about 432.6 miles (696.2 km), with a travel time of about 08h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 382.4 miles (615.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 50m 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
432.57 mi
08h 25m
Flight
382.41 mi
615.43 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
382.41 mi
Kilometers
615.43 km
Flight Time
00h 46m

Driving Distance

Road route
432.57 mi
Kilometers
696.16 km
Drive Time
08h 25m

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 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Castroville
Sun, Apr 19, 5:30 AM PDT
Return by in San Diego
Sun, Apr 19, 1:55 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Diego
2026-04-18T21:04
Arrive Castroville
Sun, Apr 19, 5:30 AM PDT
Route Timing
08h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
2:25 PM to 3:55 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
7:10 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
Greenfield
CA

City in Monterey County, California, United States

From San Diego
216.4 mi
04h 12m
To Castroville
216.2 mi
04h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph NE
Destination
77°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
1 to 8 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    57.7 mi · 1 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 46: Lost Hills, Paso Robles

    1799 ft · 28 sec

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Paso Robles Highway

    2.6 mi · 4 min · Paso Robles Highway

  29. 29

    Continue straight

    1539 ft · 20 sec

  30. 30

    Merge slight left onto Paso Robles Highway

    29.7 mi · 35 min · Paso Robles Highway

  31. 31

    Continue on Antelope Road

    6.8 mi · 9 min · Antelope Road

  32. 32

    Keep slight right

    24.4 mi · 29 min

  33. 33

    Take the exit right

    1183 ft · 29 sec

  34. 34

    Merge slight left onto El Camino Real

    95.9 mi · 1 hr 51 min · El Camino Real

  35. 35

    Take the exit slight right toward Market Street

    731 ft · 22 sec

  36. 36

    Turn right onto Kern Street

    592 ft · 10 sec · Kern Street

  37. 37

    Turn right onto East Market Street

    3106 ft · 1 min · East Market Street

  38. 38

    Turn left onto East Front Street

    133 m · 11 sec · East Front Street

  39. 39

    Keep slight right to continue on East Market Street

    1.9 mi · 3 min · East Market Street

  40. 40

    Continue on Castroville Road

    5.9 mi · 8 min · Castroville Road

  41. 41

    Continue on Merritt Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Merritt Street

  42. 42

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Merritt Street

Car Route Details

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

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
42 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
El Camino Real
98.2 mi · 23%
San Diego Freeway
75.2 mi · 17%
Westside Freeway
57.7 mi · 13%
Golden State Freeway
50 mi · 12%
I 5 Truck North
37.7 mi · 9%
Paso Robles Highway
32.6 mi · 8%
Longest Stretch

El Camino Real

Merge slight left onto El Camino Real

95.9 mi · 01h 51m

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 25m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
16h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+50.2 mi
382.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Greenfield
04h 12m from San Diego
Leave By
7:10 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving San Diego and Sunny near Castroville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 432.6 miles (696.2 km) and usually takes 08h 25m 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?

Greenfield is a useful midpoint, sitting about 216.4 miles from San Diego and 216.2 miles from Castroville.

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

The direct path is about 382.4 miles (615.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 50.2 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 $88.03 one way or $176.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 135.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Diego and Sunny near Castroville.

Stop Ideas Near Greenfield

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

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

RAIL

Bakersfield

12 mi away
601 Truxtun Ave
RAIL

Wasco station

47 mi away
700 G Street
BUS

Tehachapi, California

52 mi away
Westside of Mullbery Street
BUS

Mojave, California

79 mi away
15900 Sierra Highway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and Castroville. Straight-line distance: 382.41 mi (615.43 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
Photo coming soon

#2 Castroville

Town in the U.

Population6,481
Coordinates36.7657900, -121.7580000
Altitude7
CountryUnited States
Start: San Diego (-117.16472, 32.71571)
End: Castroville (-121.758, 36.76579)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 696 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)14h 24m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)10h 48m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)08h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)07h 12m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)06h 10m
80 mph (129 km/h)05h 23m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
15.26 gal
57.78 L · about $88.03
Round trip
$176.07
30.52 gal · 115.56 L
Estimated CO2
135.6 kg one way
Round trip: 271.2 kg / 598 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $88.03 $176.07
Mid-grade $6.07 $92.57 $185.13
Premium $6.24 $95.27 $190.54
Diesel $7.57 $115.47 $230.94

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

There is no time difference between San Diego and Castroville. The current time is 21:04:54.

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.