How far is San Diego, CA from Red Bluff, CA?
The driving distance from San Diego, CA to Red Bluff, CA is about 633.9 miles (1020.2 km), with a travel time of about 11h 45m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 587.4 miles (945.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 23h 30m 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 11h 45m.
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.
Small city in Fresno 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 Red Bluff.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and Red Bluff.
-
1
Start on Front Street
8 m · 6 sec · Front Street
-
2
Turn left onto West Broadway
88 m · 12 sec · West Broadway
-
3
Turn left onto 1st Avenue
3072 ft · 1 min · 1st Avenue
-
4
Take the ramp left toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
1017 ft · 25 sec
-
5
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
13.5 mi · 16 min · San Diego Freeway
-
6
Keep slight left to continue on San Diego Freeway
36.3 mi · 43 min · San Diego Freeway
-
7
Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway
18.1 mi · 21 min · San Diego Freeway
-
8
Keep slight left to continue on San Diego Freeway
7.4 mi · 9 min · San Diego Freeway
-
9
Keep slight right to continue on Bake Parkway
1.6 mi · 2 min
-
10
Keep slight right
6 mi · 7 min
-
11
Take the exit slight right toward Jamboree Road
1266 ft · 17 sec
-
12
Continue straight
527 ft · 11 sec
-
13
Turn right onto Jamboree Road
760 ft · 18 sec · Jamboree Road
-
14
Turn left onto El Camino Real
2.2 mi · 5 min · El Camino Real
-
15
Turn left onto Newport Avenue
109 m · 14 sec · Newport Avenue
-
16
Take the ramp right toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
1127 ft · 17 sec
-
17
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway
-
18
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.7 mi · 2 min · Santa Ana Freeway
-
19
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
9.4 mi · 11 min · Santa Ana Freeway
-
20
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
18 mi · 21 min · Santa Ana Freeway
-
21
Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Freeway
25.5 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway
-
22
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Golden State Freeway
-
23
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
1.5 mi · 2 min
-
24
Keep slight left
36.1 mi · 42 min
-
25
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway
-
26
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
225.6 mi · 4 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway
-
27
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
25.5 mi · 28 min · Westside Freeway
-
28
Keep left to continue on Westside Freeway
53.8 mi · 1 hr · Westside Freeway
-
29
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
120.9 mi · 2 hr 10 min · Westside Freeway
-
30
Continue on Cascade Wonderland Highway
2.3 mi · 3 min · Cascade Wonderland Highway
-
31
Take the exit slight right toward CA 36 East, CA 36 West, CA 99: Chico, Redbluff, Lassen Park
1428 ft · 42 sec
-
32
Turn left onto Antelope Boulevard
1 km · 1 min · Antelope Boulevard
-
33
Turn right onto Main Street
840 ft · 24 sec · Main Street
-
34
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Main Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Diego and Red Bluff.
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 Sunny near Red Bluff.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Red Bluff?
The road trip is about 633.9 miles (1020.2 km) and usually takes 11h 45m 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?
Huron is a useful midpoint, sitting about 317.2 miles from San Diego and 316.7 miles from Red Bluff.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 587.4 miles (945.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.5 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 $129.05 one way or $258.11 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 198.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around San Diego and Sunny near Red Bluff.
Stop Ideas Near Huron
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 Huron.
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Hanford station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and Red Bluff. Straight-line distance: 587.36 mi (945.27 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 Red Bluff
County seat of Tehama County, California, United States
| Population | 14,121 |
| Coordinates | 40.1784900, -122.2358300 |
| Altitude | 93 |
| Country | United States |
End: Red Bluff (-122.23583, 40.17849)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 1020 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 21h 07m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 15h 50m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 12h 40m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 10h 33m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 09h 03m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 07h 54m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $129.05 | $258.11 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $135.70 | $271.39 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $139.66 | $279.31 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $169.27 | $338.55 |
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.