How far is San Diego, CA from Mira Mesa, CA?

The driving distance from San Diego, CA to Mira Mesa, CA is about 16.6 miles (26.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 23m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 13.9 miles (22.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 46m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
16.59 mi
00h 23m
Flight
13.86 mi
22.31 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from San Diego.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
13.86 mi
Kilometers
22.31 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
16.59 mi
Kilometers
26.7 km
Drive Time
00h 23m

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 00h 23m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Mira Mesa
Thu, Oct 15, 11:55 AM PDT
Return by in San Diego
Thu, Oct 15, 12:19 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Diego
2026-10-15T11:32
Arrive Mira Mesa
Thu, Oct 15, 11:55 AM PDT
Route Timing
00h 23m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:23 AM to 7:23 PM PDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:44 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in San Diego
10:00 PM PDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
La Mesa
CA

The most populous city in San Diego County, California.

From San Diego
8.3 mi
00h 11m
To Mira Mesa
8.3 mi
00h 11m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
88°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 7:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph N
Destination
83°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph N

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between San Diego and Mira Mesa.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and Mira Mesa.

  1. 1

    Start on Front Street

    8 m · 6 sec · Front Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West Broadway

    3088 ft · 1 min · West Broadway

  3. 3

    Turn left onto 11th Avenue

    1146 ft · 25 sec · 11th Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on Cabrillo Parkway

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Cabrillo Parkway

  5. 5

    Continue on Cabrillo Freeway

    7.5 mi · 9 min · Cabrillo Freeway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward Kearny Villa Road

    1793 ft · 51 sec

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Kearny Villa Road

    946 ft · 18 sec · Kearny Villa Road

  8. 8

    Continue on Old U.S. Route 395

    1.4 km · 58 sec · Old U.S. Route 395

  9. 9

    Continue on Kearny Villa Road

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Kearny Villa Road

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Miramar Road

    1.3 km · 1 min · Miramar Road

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Camino Ruiz

    1.9 mi · 4 min · Camino Ruiz

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Camino Ruiz

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between San Diego and Mira Mesa.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
12 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
72.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Cabrillo Freeway
7.55 mi · 46%
Cabrillo Parkway
2.36 mi · 14%
Kearny Villa Road
2.31 mi · 14%
Camino Ruiz
1.86 mi · 11%
Old U.S. Route 395
0.89 mi · 5%
Miramar Road
0.81 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Cabrillo Freeway

Continue on Cabrillo Freeway

7.55 mi · 00h 09m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 23m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.7 mi
13.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
La Mesa
00h 11m from San Diego
Leave By
7:44 PM PDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving San Diego and Sunny near Mira Mesa.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Mira Mesa?

The road trip is about 16.6 miles (26.7 km) and usually takes 00h 23m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

La Mesa is a useful midpoint, sitting about 8.3 miles from San Diego and 8.3 miles from Mira Mesa.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 13.9 miles (22.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.7 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:44 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.69 one way or $7.39 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 5.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Diego and Sunny near Mira Mesa.

Stop Ideas Near La Mesa

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around La Mesa and the surrounding midpoint area.
El Primero Boutique Hotel
Coffee break 13.3 mi away

El Primero Boutique Hotel

Chula Vista , CA
416 3rd Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910, United States
Rating 4.7/5 266 reviews Hotel,Bed & breakfast,Motel
Crown City Inn
Food stop 9.1 mi away

Crown City Inn

Coronado , CA
520 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118, United States
Rating 4.6/5 225 reviews Hotel,Bistro,Restaurant
L'Auberge Del Mar
Stay option 11.8 mi away

L'Auberge Del Mar

Del Mar , CA
1540 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014, United States
Rating 4.6/5 822 reviews Hotel,Resort hotel
San Diego County Administration Center
Meeting point 7.1 mi away

San Diego County Administration Center

San Diego , CA
1600 Pacific Hwy, San Diego, CA 92101, United States
Rating 4.6/5 20 reviews County government office

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to La Mesa.

RAIL

Santa Fe Depot

15 mi away
1050 Kettner Blvd
RAIL

Old Town Transit Center

17 mi away
4005 Taylor Street
RAIL

Sorrento Valley station

24 mi away
11170 Sorrento Valley Road
RAIL

Solana Beach

34 mi away
105 North Cedros Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and Mira Mesa. Straight-line distance: 13.86 mi (22.31 km).

San Diego

#1 San Diego

The eighth most populous city in the United States and the center of the San Diego metropolitan area.

Population1,422,420
Coordinates32.7157100, -117.1647200
Altitude20
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Mira Mesa

Situated on a mesa bounded by canyons in northern San Diego, this extensive suburban community sits at an elevation of approximately 436 feet.

Population0
Coordinates32.9156000, -117.1439200
Altitude133
CountryUnited States
Start: San Diego (-117.16472, 32.71571)
End: Mira Mesa (-117.14392, 32.9156)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 27 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.59 gal
2.22 L · about $3.69
Round trip
$7.39
1.18 gal · 4.44 L
Estimated CO2
5.2 kg one way
Round trip: 10.5 kg / 23 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $6.26 $3.69 $7.39
Mid-grade $6.50 $3.83 $7.67
Premium $6.69 $3.95 $7.89
Diesel $8.41 $4.96 $9.93

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 · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between San Diego and Mira Mesa. The current time is 11:32:29.

Distance to Other Cities

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.