How far is San Diego, CA from Lake of the Pines, CA?
The driving distance from San Diego, CA to Lake of the Pines, CA is about 550.5 miles (886 km), with a travel time of about 10h 24m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 488.1 miles (785.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 20h 49m 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 10h 24m.
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 Kern County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Diego and Lake of the Pines.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and Lake of the Pines.
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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
46 mi · 51 min · Westside Freeway
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29
Take the exit slight right toward US 50, I 80 East: San Francisco, South Lake Tahoe
975 ft · 13 sec
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30
Keep slight right to continue on US 50 East, I 80 Business East: South Lake Tahoe, Broadway
809 ft · 13 sec
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31
Keep slight left to continue on US 50 East, I 80 East: South Lake Tahoe
1.1 km · 1 min
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32
Merge slight left onto Capital City Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Capital City Freeway
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33
Keep slight right to continue on Capital City Freeway
9.4 mi · 10 min · Capital City Freeway
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34
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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35
Continue on Alan S. Hart Freeway
16.9 mi · 19 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
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36
Take the exit slight right toward CA 49 North: Grass Valley, Placerville
943 ft · 31 sec
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37
Turn left onto Grass Valley Highway
5.8 mi · 9 min · Grass Valley Highway
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38
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
36 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway
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39
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Grass Valley Highway
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40
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Grass Valley Highway
36 m · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway
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41
Exit the roundabout onto Grass Valley Highway
1.1 mi · 1 min · Grass Valley Highway
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42
Continue on State Highway 49
2.2 mi · 3 min · State Highway 49
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43
Turn right onto Combie Road
1.3 km · 2 min · Combie Road
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44
Continue on Magnolia Road
135 m · 15 sec · Magnolia Road
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45
Turn right onto Lakeshore
29 m · 4 sec · Lakeshore
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46
Keep slight left to continue on Lakeshore
84 m · 20 sec · Lakeshore
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47
Turn left onto Torrey Pines Drive
1.4 km · 3 min · Torrey Pines Drive
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48
Turn right onto Hazel Way
590 ft · 33 sec · Hazel Way
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49
Turn left onto Lakeshore North
3091 ft · 2 min · Lakeshore North
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50
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Lakeshore North
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Diego and Lake of the Pines.
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 Sunny near Lake of the Pines.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Lake of the Pines?
The road trip is about 550.5 miles (886 km) and usually takes 10h 24m 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?
Lost Hills is a useful midpoint, sitting about 275.5 miles from San Diego and 275.1 miles from Lake of the Pines.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 488.1 miles (785.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 62.4 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 $112.09 one way or $224.18 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 172.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Diego and Sunny near Lake of the Pines.
Stop Ideas Near Lost Hills
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 Lost Hills.
Wasco station
Kettleman City, California
Corcoran station
Bakersfield
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and Lake of the Pines. Straight-line distance: 488.12 mi (785.55 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 Lake of the Pines
Census-designated place in Nevada County, California
| Population | 3,917 |
| Coordinates | 39.0396200, -121.0566100 |
| Altitude | 462 |
| Country | United States |
End: Lake of the Pines (-121.05661, 39.03962)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 886 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 18h 20m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 13h 45m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 11h 00m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 09h 10m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 51m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 52m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $112.09 | $224.18 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $117.86 | $235.72 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $121.30 | $242.60 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $147.03 | $294.05 |
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 31, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.