How far is San Diego, CA from Lucerne, CA?
The driving distance from San Diego, CA to Lucerne, CA is about 319.6 miles (514.4 km), with a travel time of about 06h 12m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 290.4 miles (467.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 25m 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 06h 12m.
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 Los Angeles County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Diego and Lucerne.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and Lucerne.
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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 left to continue on Golden State Freeway
27.4 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway
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27
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
6 mi · 7 min · Golden State Freeway
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28
Continue on Golden State Highway
63.6 mi · 1 hr 8 min · Golden State Highway
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29
Take the exit slight right toward CA 198 West: Hanford, Lemoore
1369 ft · 33 sec
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30
Continue on CA 198 West: Hanford, Lemoore
1903 ft · 47 sec
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31
Merge slight right
10.4 mi · 12 min
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32
Take the exit slight right toward CA 43: Selma, Corcoran
1716 ft · 44 sec
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33
Turn right onto Central Valley Highway
715 ft · 12 sec · Central Valley Highway
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34
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Central Valley Highway
31 m · 2 sec · Central Valley Highway
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35
Exit the roundabout onto Central Valley Highway
3.9 mi · 6 min · Central Valley Highway
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36
Turn left onto Flint Avenue
1 mi · 2 min · Flint Avenue
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37
Turn right onto North 11th Avenue
1 mi · 3 min · North 11th Avenue
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38
Turn left onto Elder Avenue
2801 ft · 2 min · Elder Avenue
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39
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Elder Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Diego and Lucerne.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Golden State Highway
Continue on Golden State Highway
63.6 mi · 01h 08m
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.
Sunny leaving San Diego and Sunny near Lucerne.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Lucerne?
The road trip is about 319.6 miles (514.4 km) and usually takes 06h 12m 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?
Val Verde is a useful midpoint, sitting about 159.9 miles from San Diego and 159.6 miles from Lucerne.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 290.4 miles (467.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 29.2 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 $65.07 one way or $130.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 100.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Diego and Sunny near Lucerne.
Stop Ideas Near Val Verde
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 Val Verde.
Santa Clarita-Newhall, California
Simi Valley
Chatsworth station
Fillmore, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and Lucerne. Straight-line distance: 290.42 mi (467.38 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 Lucerne
Census-designated place in Lake County, California
| Population | 3,443 |
| Coordinates | 36.3807800, -119.6643000 |
| Altitude | 79 |
| Country | United States |
End: Lucerne (-119.6643, 36.38078)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 514 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 38m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 59m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 23m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 19m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 33m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 59m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $65.07 | $130.15 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $68.42 | $136.85 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $70.42 | $140.84 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $85.36 | $170.71 |
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 07, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.