How far is San Diego, CA from Chico, CA?
The driving distance from San Diego, CA to Chico, CA is about 591.8 miles (952.4 km), with a travel time of about 11h 10m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 549.9 miles (885 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 22h 20m 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 11h 10m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Census-designated place in Kings County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Chance Light Rain
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Diego and Chico.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and Chico.
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1
Start on Front Street
8 m · 6 sec · Front Street
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2
Turn left onto West Broadway
88 m · 12 sec · West Broadway
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3
Turn left onto 1st Avenue
3072 ft · 1 min · 1st Avenue
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4
Take the ramp left toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
1017 ft · 25 sec
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5
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
13.5 mi · 16 min · San Diego Freeway
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6
Keep slight left to continue on San Diego Freeway
36.3 mi · 43 min · San Diego Freeway
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7
Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway
18.1 mi · 21 min · San Diego Freeway
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8
Keep slight left to continue on San Diego Freeway
7.4 mi · 9 min · San Diego Freeway
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9
Keep slight right to continue on Bake Parkway
1.6 mi · 2 min
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10
Keep slight right
6 mi · 7 min
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11
Take the exit slight right toward Jamboree Road
1266 ft · 17 sec
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12
Continue straight
527 ft · 11 sec
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13
Turn right onto Jamboree Road
760 ft · 18 sec · Jamboree Road
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14
Turn left onto El Camino Real
2.2 mi · 5 min · El Camino Real
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15
Turn left onto Newport Avenue
109 m · 14 sec · Newport Avenue
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16
Take the ramp right toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
1127 ft · 17 sec
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17
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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18
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.7 mi · 2 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
9.4 mi · 11 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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20
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
18 mi · 21 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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21
Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Freeway
25.5 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway
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22
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Golden State Freeway
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23
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
1.5 mi · 2 min
-
24
Keep slight left
36.1 mi · 42 min
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25
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
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26
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
225.6 mi · 4 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway
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27
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
25.5 mi · 28 min · Westside Freeway
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28
Keep left to continue on Westside Freeway
53.8 mi · 1 hr · Westside Freeway
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29
Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Highway
7.5 mi · 9 min · Golden State Highway
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30
Continue on Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
5 mi · 6 min · Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
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31
Keep slight right to continue on CA 70 North: Marysville, Oroville
21.7 mi · 26 min
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32
Turn right onto 5th Street
1272 ft · 39 sec · 5th Street
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33
Turn left onto B Street
1.5 mi · 3 min · B Street
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34
Continue straight
30.3 mi · 35 min
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35
Keep slight left
5.7 mi · 7 min
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36
Merge slight left
7.6 mi · 9 min
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37
Take the exit slight right toward Skyway
1395 ft · 26 sec
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38
Turn left onto Skyway Road
1849 ft · 41 sec · Skyway Road
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39
Continue on East Park Avenue
2365 ft · 49 sec · East Park Avenue
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40
Turn slight right
46 m · 7 sec
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41
Turn straight onto Park Avenue
1.3 mi · 2 min · Park Avenue
-
42
Continue on Main Street
1687 ft · 1 min · Main Street
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43
Turn right onto East 5th Street
50 m · 7 sec · East 5th Street
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44
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East 5th Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Diego and Chico.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving San Diego and Chance Light Rain near Chico.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Chico?
The road trip is about 591.8 miles (952.4 km) and usually takes 11h 10m 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?
Kettleman City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 296.1 miles from San Diego and 295.7 miles from Chico.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 549.9 miles (885 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.9 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 $120.46 one way or $240.91 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 185.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Diego and Chance Light Rain near Chico.
Stop Ideas Near Kettleman City
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 Kettleman City.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Corcoran station
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and Chico. Straight-line distance: 549.89 mi (884.96 km).
#1 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 |
#2 Chico
The most populous city in Butte County, California.
| Population | 102,867 |
| Coordinates | 39.7284900, -121.8374800 |
| Altitude | 60 |
| Country | United States |
End: Chico (-121.83748, 39.72849)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 952 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 19h 43m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 14h 47m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 11h 50m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 09h 51m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 08h 27m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 07h 22m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $120.46 | $240.91 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $126.66 | $253.32 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $130.35 | $260.71 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $158.00 | $316.00 |
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.