How far is San Diego, CA from Palo Cedro, CA?

The estimated driving distance from San Diego, CA to Palo Cedro, CA is about 720.5 miles (1159.5 km), with a travel time of about 12h 37m by car.

  • This page is using an estimated road distance while the full route geometry is refreshed.
  • The straight-line flight distance is about 610.6 miles (982.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 25h 15m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT.
Road route is being refreshed. This page currently uses an estimated driving distance until a routing provider returns the full road geometry.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
720.5 mi
12h 37m · estimated
Flight
610.59 mi
982.65 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from San Diego.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
610.59 mi
Kilometers
982.65 km
Flight Time
01h 13m

Driving Distance

Estimated road route
720.5 mi
Estimated
Kilometers
1159.53 km
Drive Time
12h 37m

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 12h 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Palo Cedro
Sat, Apr 11, 9:07 AM PDT
Return by in San Diego
Sat, Apr 11, 9:45 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Diego
2026-04-10T20:29
Arrive Palo Cedro
Sat, Apr 11, 9:07 AM PDT
Route Timing
12h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
6:38 PM to 8:08 PM PDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
10:44 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in San Diego
8:00 PM PDT
Overnight-style route

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.

Mid-route stop
Fowler
CA

City in Fresno County, California, United States

From San Diego
305.3 mi
06h 18m
To Palo Cedro
415.2 mi
06h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 15 mph NW
Destination
49°F
Friday Night

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 10 11:00 AM PDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph S

Driving Route Map

Road route is being refreshed. This page currently uses an estimated driving distance.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and Palo Cedro.

Turn-by-turn directions will appear after the road route is refreshed. The current distance is an estimate.

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
12h 37m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
25h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+109.9 mi
610.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Fowler
06h 18m from San Diego
Leave By
10:44 AM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving San Diego and Showers And Thunderstorms near Palo Cedro.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Palo Cedro?

The road trip is about 720.5 miles (1159.5 km) and usually takes 12h 37m 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?

Fowler is a useful midpoint, sitting about 305.3 miles from San Diego and 415.2 miles from Palo Cedro.

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

The direct path is about 610.6 miles (982.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 109.9 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 $146.65 one way or $293.30 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 225.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Diego and Showers And Thunderstorms near Palo Cedro.

Stop Ideas Near Fowler

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Fowler, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Fowler.

RAIL

Fresno station

15 mi away
2650 Tulare St.
RAIL

Hanford station

34 mi away
200 Santa Fe Avenue #A
BUS

Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California

35 mi away
25th Ave and Highway 198
BUS

Goshen Junction, California

39 mi away
30435 Road 68

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and Palo Cedro. Straight-line distance: 610.59 mi (982.65 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
Palo Cedro

#2 Palo Cedro

Census-designated place in Shasta County, California

Population1,269
Coordinates40.5637600, -122.2388900
Altitude143
CountryUnited States
Start: San Diego (-117.16472, 32.71571)
End: Palo Cedro (-122.23889, 40.56376)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 1160 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)24h 00m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)18h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)14h 24m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)12h 00m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)10h 17m
80 mph (129 km/h)08h 59m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
25.42 gal
96.24 L · about $146.65
Round trip
$293.30
50.84 gal · 192.48 L
Estimated CO2
225.9 kg one way
Round trip: 451.8 kg / 996 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $146.65 $293.30
Mid-grade $6.07 $154.20 $308.40
Premium $6.24 $158.70 $317.39
Diesel $7.57 $192.35 $384.71

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 · Apr 11, 2026

There is no time difference between San Diego and Palo Cedro. The current time is 20:29:21.

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.