How far is San Diego, CA from Happy Camp, CA?
The driving distance from San Diego, CA to Happy Camp, CA is about 830.6 miles (1336.7 km), with a travel time of about 15h 53m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 713.8 miles (1148.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 31h 47m 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 15h 53m.
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.
City in Stanislaus County, California, United States
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 Happy Camp.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and Happy Camp.
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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 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 left to continue on Westside Freeway
120.9 mi · 2 hr 10 min · Westside Freeway
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30
Continue on Cascade Wonderland Highway
129.3 mi · 2 hr 25 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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31
Take the exit slight right toward Yreka, Montague
1206 ft · 23 sec
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32
Keep slight left
22 m · 10 sec
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33
Turn left onto Montague Road
1839 ft · 41 sec · Montague Road
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34
Turn right onto North Main Street
8 mi · 14 min · North Main Street
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35
At the end of the road, turn left
61.9 mi · 1 hr 32 min
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36
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue
1202 ft · 36 sec · 2nd Avenue
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37
Turn right
40 m · 10 sec
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38
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Diego and Happy Camp.
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 Happy Camp.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Happy Camp?
The road trip is about 830.6 miles (1336.7 km) and usually takes 15h 53m 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 415.5 miles from San Diego and 415.1 miles from Happy Camp.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 713.8 miles (1148.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 116.8 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 $169.09 one way or $338.18 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 260.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Diego and Chance Light Rain near Happy Camp.
Stop Ideas Near Patterson
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 Patterson.
Modesto station
Denair station
Tracy, CA
Manteca, CA
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and Happy Camp. Straight-line distance: 713.78 mi (1148.72 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 Happy Camp
Happy Camp is a place in California, United States.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 41.7927500, -123.3808000 |
| Altitude | 331 |
| Country | United States |
End: Happy Camp (-123.3808, 41.79275)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1337 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 27h 40m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 20h 45m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 16h 36m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 13h 50m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 11h 51m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 10h 21m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $169.09 | $338.18 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $177.79 | $355.59 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $182.98 | $365.96 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $221.79 | $443.58 |
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.