How far is San Diego, CA from McKinleyville, CA?
The driving distance from San Diego, CA to McKinleyville, CA is about 803.7 miles (1293.5 km), with a travel time of about 15h 06m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 685.4 miles (1103.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 30h 12m 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 06m.
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 Merced County, California, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Patchy Fog then Chance Light Rain
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Diego and McKinleyville.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and McKinleyville.
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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
31.6 mi · 34 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
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31
Take the exit slight right toward CA 44: Eureka, Susanville
915 ft · 16 sec
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32
Keep slight left to continue on CA 44 West: Eureka, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
1.5 km · 1 min
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33
Merge slight left
1.2 mi · 2 min
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34
Turn right onto Pine Street
149 m · 18 sec · Pine Street
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35
Turn left onto Eureka Way
25 mi · 30 min · Eureka Way
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36
Continue straight
109.8 mi · 2 hr 9 min
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37
Take the exit slight right
3133 ft · 1 min
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38
Keep slight left to continue on North Bank Road
1.8 mi · 3 min · North Bank Road
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39
Turn right onto Central Avenue
2 mi · 4 min · Central Avenue
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40
Turn right
26 m · 9 sec
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41
Turn right
17 m · 9 sec
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42
Turn left
4 m · 1 sec
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43
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Diego and McKinleyville.
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 Patchy Fog then Chance Light Rain near McKinleyville.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Diego to McKinleyville?
The road trip is about 803.7 miles (1293.5 km) and usually takes 15h 06m 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?
Gustine is a useful midpoint, sitting about 402.1 miles from San Diego and 401.7 miles from McKinleyville.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 685.4 miles (1103.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 118.3 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 $163.61 one way or $327.22 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 252 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Diego and Patchy Fog then Chance Light Rain near McKinleyville.
Stop Ideas Near Gustine
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 Gustine.
Denair station
Modesto station
Merced station
Gilroy, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and McKinleyville. Straight-line distance: 685.42 mi (1103.07 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 McKinleyville
Census-designated place in Humboldt County, California
| Population | 15,177 |
| Coordinates | 40.9465200, -124.1006200 |
| Altitude | 44 |
| Country | United States |
End: McKinleyville (-124.10062, 40.94652)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1294 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 26h 46m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 20h 05m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 16h 04m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 13h 23m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 11h 28m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 10h 01m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $163.61 | $327.22 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $172.03 | $344.06 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $177.05 | $354.10 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $214.60 | $429.20 |
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 18, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.