How far is San Diego, CA from San Carlos, CA?
The driving distance from San Diego, CA to San Carlos, CA is about 484.3 miles (779.4 km), with a travel time of about 09h 13m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 438.6 miles (705.9 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 27m 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 13m.
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.
Place in Kern 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 San Carlos.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and San Carlos.
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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
-
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
182.5 mi · 3 hr 16 min · Westside Freeway
-
27
Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose
1038 ft · 27 sec
-
28
Continue straight
28.7 mi · 33 min
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29
Keep slight right
11.9 mi · 17 min
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30
Take the exit slight right toward US 101 North: San Jose
2466 ft · 1 min
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31
Merge slight left onto South Valley Freeway
19.9 mi · 23 min · South Valley Freeway
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32
Keep slight left
21.9 mi · 25 min
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33
Keep slight left
12.8 mi · 15 min
-
34
Take the exit slight right toward Holly Street
782 ft · 19 sec
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35
Keep slight left to continue on Holly Street
1085 ft · 26 sec
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36
Keep slight right to continue on Holly Street
769 ft · 19 sec
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37
Turn straight onto Holly Street
2714 ft · 1 min · Holly Street
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38
Turn left onto El Camino Real
681 ft · 26 sec · El Camino Real
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39
Turn right onto San Carlos Avenue
19 m · 1 sec · San Carlos Avenue
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40
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · San Carlos Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Diego and San Carlos.
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
183 mi · 03h 16m
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.
Sunny leaving San Diego and Sunny near San Carlos.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Diego to San Carlos?
The road trip is about 484.3 miles (779.4 km) and usually takes 09h 13m 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?
Buttonwillow is a useful midpoint, sitting about 242.2 miles from San Diego and 242 miles from San Carlos.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 438.6 miles (705.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 45.7 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 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 $98.59 one way or $197.18 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 151.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Diego and Sunny near San Carlos.
Stop Ideas Near Buttonwillow
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 Buttonwillow.
Wasco station
Bakersfield
Corcoran station
Kettleman City, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and San Carlos. Straight-line distance: 438.65 mi (705.94 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 San Carlos
City in San Mateo County, California, USA
| Population | 29,641 |
| Coordinates | 37.5071600, -122.2605200 |
| Altitude | 10 |
| Country | United States |
End: San Carlos (-122.26052, 37.50716)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 779 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 16h 08m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 12h 06m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 41m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 04m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 55m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 02m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $98.59 | $197.18 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $103.67 | $207.34 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $106.69 | $213.39 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $129.32 | $258.64 |
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 14, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.