How far is San Diego, CA from Novato, CA?
The driving distance from San Diego, CA to Novato, CA is about 522 miles (840.1 km), with a travel time of about 09h 51m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 480.9 miles (773.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 19h 42m 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 09h 51m.
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
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Diego and Novato.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and Novato.
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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 left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
15.9 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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28
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
-
29
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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30
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11.6 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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31
Keep slight right to continue on MacArthur Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · MacArthur Freeway
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32
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · MacArthur Freeway
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33
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Eastshore Freeway
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34
Keep slight right to continue on John T. Knox Freeway
12.9 mi · 17 min · John T. Knox Freeway
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35
Keep slight left to continue on US 101 North: San Rafeal
1.1 km · 54 sec
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36
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
10.7 mi · 13 min · Redwood Highway
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37
Take the exit slight right toward De Long Avenue
1102 ft · 29 sec
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38
Turn left onto De Long Avenue
2651 ft · 1 min · De Long Avenue
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39
Turn sharp right onto Redwood Boulevard
875 ft · 26 sec · Redwood Boulevard
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40
Turn right onto Grant Avenue
38 m · 5 sec · Grant Avenue
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41
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Grant Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Diego and Novato.
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.
Partly Sunny leaving San Diego and Mostly Sunny near Novato.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Novato?
The road trip is about 522 miles (840.1 km) and usually takes 09h 51m 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 261.1 miles from San Diego and 260.9 miles from Novato.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 480.9 miles (773.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.1 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 $106.26 one way or $212.53 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 163.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around San Diego and Mostly Sunny near Novato.
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 Novato. Straight-line distance: 480.85 mi (773.86 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 Novato
A city in Marin County, California.
| Population | 53,351 |
| Coordinates | 38.1074200, -122.5697000 |
| Altitude | 9 |
| Country | United States |
End: Novato (-122.5697, 38.10742)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 840 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 17h 23m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 13h 03m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 26m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 42m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 27m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 30m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $106.26 | $212.53 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $111.74 | $223.47 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $115.00 | $229.99 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $139.38 | $278.77 |
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 13, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.