How far is San Diego, CA from Palmdale, CA?
The driving distance from San Diego, CA to Palmdale, CA is about 170.6 miles (274.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 26m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 139.9 miles (225.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 53m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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 03h 26m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
The second most populous city in Riverside County, California.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Diego and Palmdale.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and Palmdale.
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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
3088 ft · 1 min · West Broadway
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3
Turn left onto 11th Avenue
1146 ft · 25 sec · 11th Avenue
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4
Continue on Cabrillo Parkway
2.4 mi · 3 min · Cabrillo Parkway
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5
Continue on Cabrillo Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · Cabrillo Freeway
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6
Keep slight left
2688 ft · 35 sec
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7
Continue on Semper Fi Highway
1.8 mi · 2 min · Semper Fi Highway
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8
Continue on Escondido Freeway
3.1 mi · 4 min · Escondido Freeway
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9
Continue on Tony Gwynn Memorial Freeway
4.6 mi · 5 min · Tony Gwynn Memorial Freeway
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10
Continue on Escondido Freeway
5.9 mi · 7 min · Escondido Freeway
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11
Keep slight left to continue on Escondido Freeway
6.9 mi · 8 min · Escondido Freeway
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12
Continue on Avocado Highway
21.9 mi · 23 min · Avocado Highway
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13
Continue on Escondido Freeway
6.3 mi · 7 min · Escondido Freeway
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14
Take the exit slight right toward I 215
1510 ft · 18 sec
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15
Continue on Escondido Freeway
34.5 mi · 40 min · Escondido Freeway
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16
Keep slight right to continue on I 215 North: San Bernardino, Barstow
2413 ft · 51 sec
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17
Merge slight left onto Riverside Freeway
5.4 mi · 6 min · Riverside Freeway
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18
Continue on San Bernardino Freeway
5.5 mi · 6 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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19
Continue on Barstow Freeway
8.9 mi · 10 min · Barstow Freeway
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20
Keep slight left
1141 ft · 14 sec
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21
Continue on Barstow and Mojave Freeway
6.8 mi · 7 min · Barstow and Mojave Freeway
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22
Take the exit slight right toward CA 138: Palmdale, Silverwood Lake
1360 ft · 35 sec
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23
Turn left
39.9 mi · 56 min
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24
Continue on 47th Street East
1.8 mi · 3 min · 47th Street East
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25
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward East Palmdale Boulevard
88 m · 10 sec · East Palmdale Boulevard
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26
Exit the roundabout onto East Palmdale Boulevard
4.1 mi · 5 min · East Palmdale Boulevard
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27
Continue on East Palmdale Boulevard
23 m · 8 sec · East Palmdale Boulevard
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28
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · East Palmdale Boulevard
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Diego and Palmdale.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Longest stretch
Turn left
39.9 mi · 00h 56m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Partly Sunny leaving San Diego and Sunny near Palmdale.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Palmdale?
The road trip is about 170.6 miles (274.5 km) and usually takes 03h 26m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Perris is a useful midpoint, sitting about 85.4 miles from San Diego and 85.2 miles from Palmdale.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 139.9 miles (225.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 30.7 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:06 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.73 one way or $69.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 53.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around San Diego and Sunny near Palmdale.
Stop Ideas Near Perris
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Brandon's Diner Jr. Of City Hall
Holiday Inn Express Colton-Riverside North, an IHG Hotel
Summerly Community Park - City of Lake Elsinore
Loma Linda City Hall
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Perris.
Perris, California
Sun City, California
Moreno Valley, California
Hemet (West Florida Ave), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and Palmdale. Straight-line distance: 139.92 mi (225.18 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 Palmdale
The most populous city in Los Angeles County, California.
| Population | 150,498 |
| Coordinates | 34.5794300, -118.1164600 |
| Altitude | 810 |
| Country | United States |
End: Palmdale (-118.11646, 34.57943)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 275 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 05h 41m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 04h 15m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 03h 24m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 02h 50m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 26m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 07m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $34.73 | $69.46 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $36.52 | $73.03 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $37.58 | $75.17 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $45.55 | $91.11 |
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 12, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.