How far is San Diego, CA from Fortuna, CA?
The driving distance from San Diego, CA to Fortuna, CA is about 746.5 miles (1201.4 km), with a travel time of about 14h 23m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 667.9 miles (1074.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 28h 46m 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 14h 23m.
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 Merced County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Chance Light Rain then Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Diego and Fortuna.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and Fortuna.
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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
-
27
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
15.9 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
-
28
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
-
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
1.6 mi · 2 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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31
Take the exit slight right toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek
857 ft · 16 sec
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32
Keep slight right to continue on I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento
1614 ft · 30 sec
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33
Merge slight left onto Donald D Doyle Highway
15.2 mi · 18 min · Donald D Doyle Highway
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34
Continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
5 mi · 6 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
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35
Keep slight left to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
6 mi · 7 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
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36
Keep slight left to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
74 m · 3 sec · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
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37
Keep slight right to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
1.8 mi · 2 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
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38
Keep slight left to continue on I 780: Benicia
6.7 mi · 8 min
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39
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 East: Sacramento
1379 ft · 34 sec
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40
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Sacramento
137 m · 11 sec
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41
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
2.7 mi · 3 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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42
Take the exit slight right toward CA 37: Napa, Novato, Auto Mall, Columbus Parkway
752 ft · 18 sec
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43
Keep slight left to continue on CA 37: Napa
2517 ft · 1 min
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44
Continue on CA 37
1.5 mi · 2 min
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45
Take the exit slight right toward CA 29: Napa, Sonoma Boulevard
1912 ft · 51 sec
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46
Turn right onto Sonoma Boulevard
1.6 mi · 2 min · Sonoma Boulevard
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47
Continue on Broadway Street
4 mi · 5 min · Broadway Street
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48
Continue on Napa–Vallejo Highway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Napa–Vallejo Highway
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49
Continue on Saint Helena Highway
21.7 mi · 26 min · Saint Helena Highway
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50
Continue on Main Street
2.4 mi · 3 min · Main Street
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51
Continue on Saint Helena Highway
6.8 mi · 8 min · Saint Helena Highway
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52
Continue on Foothill Boulevard
1.4 mi · 2 min · Foothill Boulevard
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53
Continue on Saint Helena Highway
16.1 mi · 18 min · Saint Helena Highway
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54
Continue on Saint Helena Highway
6.6 mi · 8 min · Saint Helena Highway
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55
At the end of the road, turn right onto Geyserville Avenue
1.5 km · 1 min · Geyserville Avenue
-
56
Turn left onto Canyon Road
110 m · 7 sec · Canyon Road
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57
Take the exit right
1615 ft · 39 sec
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58
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
55.3 mi · 1 hr 7 min · Redwood Highway
-
59
Continue on Willits Bypass
4.5 mi · 5 min · Willits Bypass
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60
Take the exit slight right
1.1 km · 48 sec
-
61
Merge slight left onto Willits Bypass
1236 ft · 16 sec · Willits Bypass
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62
Continue on Redwood Highway
114.1 mi · 2 hr 21 min · Redwood Highway
-
63
Take the exit slight right toward 12th Street
975 ft · 24 sec
-
64
Continue on 12th Street
1.1 km · 2 min · 12th Street
-
65
Turn left onto Main Street
859 ft · 34 sec · Main Street
-
66
Turn right onto 9th Street
45 m · 9 sec · 9th Street
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67
Turn right
24 m · 6 sec
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68
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Diego and Fortuna.
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 then Partly Sunny near Fortuna.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Fortuna?
The road trip is about 746.5 miles (1201.4 km) and usually takes 14h 23m 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?
South Dos Palos is a useful midpoint, sitting about 373.4 miles from San Diego and 373.1 miles from Fortuna.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 667.9 miles (1074.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 78.6 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 $151.96 one way or $303.91 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 234.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Diego and Chance Light Rain then Partly Sunny near Fortuna.
Stop Ideas Near South Dos Palos
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 South Dos Palos.
Merced station
Madera
Denair station
Fresno station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and Fortuna. Straight-line distance: 667.94 mi (1074.94 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 Fortuna
City in the United States of America
| Population | 12,107 |
| Coordinates | 40.5981900, -124.1572800 |
| Altitude | 20 |
| Country | United States |
End: Fortuna (-124.15728, 40.59819)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1201 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 24h 52m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 18h 39m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 14h 55m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 12h 26m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 10h 39m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 09h 18m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $151.96 | $303.91 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $159.78 | $319.56 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $164.44 | $328.88 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $199.31 | $398.63 |
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 · May 14, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.