How far is San Diego, CA from Daly City, CA?
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 09h 34m.
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.
Place in Kern County California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Diego and Daly City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and Daly City.
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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
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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 left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
15.9 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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28
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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29
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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30
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11.6 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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31
Keep slight right to continue on MacArthur Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · MacArthur Freeway
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32
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
7.2 mi · 8 min · MacArthur Freeway
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33
Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: San Francisco
1.5 km · 1 min
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34
Merge slight right onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1015 ft · 17 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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35
Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
1959 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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36
Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5.5 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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37
Continue on Route 80
1438 ft · 24 sec · Route 80
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38
Continue on Route 80
1.2 km · 1 min · Route 80
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39
Continue on Route 80
1893 ft · 32 sec · Route 80
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40
Keep slight left to continue on US 101 South: San Jose
1488 ft · 25 sec
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41
Merge slight right onto James Lick Freeway
2 mi · 3 min · James Lick Freeway
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42
Take the exit slight right toward I 280 South: Daly City
1294 ft · 22 sec
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43
Keep slight left to continue on I 280 South: Daly City
1344 ft · 23 sec
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44
Merge slight left onto John F Foran Freeway
2.9 mi · 3 min · John F Foran Freeway
-
45
Take the exit slight right toward CA 82 North, CA 1 North: San Jose Avenue, Mission Street
1317 ft · 32 sec
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46
Continue on San Jose Avenue
2669 ft · 1 min · San Jose Avenue
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47
Continue on Mission Street
84 m · 11 sec · Mission Street
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48
Turn right onto Hillcrest Drive
14 m · 2 sec · Hillcrest Drive
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49
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Hillcrest Drive
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 Showers And Thunderstorms near Daly City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Daly City?
The road trip is about 507.2 miles (816.3 km) and usually takes 09h 34m 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?
Buttonwillow is a useful midpoint, sitting about 253.7 miles from San Diego and 253.5 miles from Daly City.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 456.2 miles (734.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 51 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 $103.27 one way or $206.53 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 159.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Diego and Showers And Thunderstorms near Daly City.
Stop Ideas Near Buttonwillow
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 Buttonwillow.
Wasco station
Bakersfield
Corcoran station
Kettleman City, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and Daly City. Straight-line distance: 456.22 mi (734.21 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 Daly City
The most populous city in San Mateo County, California.
| Population | 106,280 |
| Coordinates | 37.7057700, -122.4619200 |
| Altitude | 124 |
| Country | United States |
End: Daly City (-122.46192, 37.70577)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 816 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 16h 54m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 12h 40m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 08m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 27m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 14m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 19m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $103.27 | $206.53 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $108.58 | $217.16 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $111.75 | $223.50 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $135.45 | $270.90 |
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 10, 2026