How far is San Diego, CA from Crescent City, CA?

The driving distance from San Diego, CA to Crescent City, CA is about 847.8 miles (1364.4 km), with a travel time of about 16h 35m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 734.2 miles (1181.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 33h 11m 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
847.82 mi
16h 35m
Flight
734.22 mi
1181.61 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
734.22 mi
Kilometers
1181.61 km
Flight Time
01h 28m

Driving Distance

Road route
847.82 mi
Kilometers
1364.44 km
Drive Time
16h 35m

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 16h 35m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Crescent City
Sun, Apr 19, 9:12 PM PDT
Return by in San Diego
Mon, Apr 20, 1:48 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Diego
2026-04-19T04:37
Arrive Crescent City
Sun, Apr 19, 9:12 PM PDT
Route Timing
16h 35m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
10:36 PM to 12:06 AM PDT

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

Leave by
2:48 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
Patterson
CA

City in Stanislaus County, California, United States

From San Diego
424 mi
08h 17m
To Crescent City
423.8 mi
08h 17m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph NW
Destination
Crescent City Weather
CA
Live fallback forecast
55°F
Sunday
Using McKinleyville as the closest live forecast in the California weather hub.

Rain

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and Crescent City.

  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

    15.2 mi · 18 min · Donald D Doyle Highway

  34. 34

    Continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

    5 mi · 6 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

  35. 35

    Keep slight left to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

    6 mi · 7 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

  36. 36

    Keep slight left to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

    74 m · 3 sec · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

  37. 37

    Keep slight right to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

  38. 38

    Keep slight left to continue on I 780: Benicia

    6.7 mi · 8 min

  39. 39

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East: Sacramento

    1379 ft · 34 sec

  40. 40

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Sacramento

    137 m · 11 sec

  41. 41

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    2.7 mi · 3 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  42. 42

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 37: Napa, Novato, Auto Mall, Columbus Parkway

    752 ft · 18 sec

  43. 43

    Keep slight left to continue on CA 37: Napa

    2517 ft · 1 min

  44. 44

    Continue on CA 37

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  45. 45

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 29: Napa, Sonoma Boulevard

    1912 ft · 51 sec

  46. 46

    Turn right onto Sonoma Boulevard

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Sonoma Boulevard

  47. 47

    Continue on Broadway Street

    4 mi · 5 min · Broadway Street

  48. 48

    Continue on Napa–Vallejo Highway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Napa–Vallejo Highway

  49. 49

    Continue on Saint Helena Highway

    21.7 mi · 26 min · Saint Helena Highway

  50. 50

    Continue on Main Street

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Main Street

  51. 51

    Continue on Saint Helena Highway

    6.8 mi · 8 min · Saint Helena Highway

  52. 52

    Continue on Foothill Boulevard

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Foothill Boulevard

  53. 53

    Continue on Saint Helena Highway

    16.1 mi · 18 min · Saint Helena Highway

  54. 54

    Continue on Saint Helena Highway

    6.6 mi · 8 min · Saint Helena Highway

  55. 55

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Geyserville Avenue

    1.5 km · 1 min · Geyserville Avenue

  56. 56

    Turn left onto Canyon Road

    110 m · 7 sec · Canyon Road

  57. 57

    Take the exit right

    1615 ft · 39 sec

  58. 58

    Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway

    55.3 mi · 1 hr 7 min · Redwood Highway

  59. 59

    Continue on Willits Bypass

    4.5 mi · 5 min · Willits Bypass

  60. 60

    Take the exit slight right

    1.1 km · 48 sec

  61. 61

    Merge slight left onto Willits Bypass

    1236 ft · 16 sec · Willits Bypass

  62. 62

    Continue on Redwood Highway

    128.9 mi · 2 hr 38 min · Redwood Highway

  63. 63

    Continue on Broadway Street

    2.9 mi · 6 min · Broadway Street

  64. 64

    Turn right onto West 5th Street

    1.4 mi · 4 min · West 5th Street

  65. 65

    Continue on Redwood Highway

    82.5 mi · 1 hr 46 min · Redwood Highway

  66. 66

    Continue on M Street

    2718 ft · 1 min · M Street

  67. 67

    Turn left onto 9th Street

    1564 ft · 45 sec · 9th Street

  68. 68

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 9th Street

Car Route Details

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

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
68 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
16
7 merges, 9 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Redwood Highway
267 mi · 31%
Westside Freeway
226 mi · 27%
San Diego Freeway
75.2 mi · 9%
Saint Helena Highway
51.2 mi · 6%
Golden State Freeway
50 mi · 6%
I 5 Truck North
37.7 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
16h 35m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
33h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+113.6 mi
734.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Patterson
08h 17m from San Diego
Leave By
2:48 AM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving San Diego and Rain near Crescent City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Crescent City?

The road trip is about 847.8 miles (1364.4 km) and usually takes 16h 35m 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?

Patterson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 424 miles from San Diego and 423.8 miles from Crescent City.

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

The direct path is about 734.2 miles (1181.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 113.6 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 $172.61 one way or $345.22 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 265.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Diego and Rain near Crescent City.

Stop Ideas Near Patterson

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

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

RAIL

Modesto station

29 mi away
1700 Held Drive
RAIL

Denair station

30 mi away
3800 Santa Fe Avenue
RAIL

Tracy, CA

37 mi away
4800 Tracy Boulevard
RAIL

Manteca, CA

38 mi away
17800 Shideler Parkway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and Crescent City. Straight-line distance: 734.22 mi (1181.61 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
Crescent City

#2 Crescent City

City in Del Norte County, California

Population6,787
Coordinates41.7559500, -124.2017500
Altitude13
CountryUnited States
Start: San Diego (-117.16472, 32.71571)
End: Crescent City (-124.20175, 41.75595)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 1364 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)28h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)21h 11m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)16h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)14h 07m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)12h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)10h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
29.92 gal
113.25 L · about $172.61
Round trip
$345.22
59.84 gal · 226.5 L
Estimated CO2
265.9 kg one way
Round trip: 531.8 kg / 1172 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $172.61 $345.22
Mid-grade $6.07 $181.49 $362.99
Premium $6.24 $186.79 $373.58
Diesel $7.57 $226.40 $452.81

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 Crescent City. The current time is 04:37:14.

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.