How far is San Diego, CA from San Luis Obispo, CA?
The driving distance from San Diego, CA to San Luis Obispo, CA is about 312 miles (502.1 km), with a travel time of about 06h 14m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 267.4 miles (430.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 28m 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 06h 14m.
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.
Unincorporated community in California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Diego and San Luis Obispo.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and San Luis Obispo.
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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 right to continue on San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
14.1 mi · 16 min · San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
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9
Continue on Corona Del Mar Freeway
4 mi · 5 min · Corona Del Mar Freeway
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10
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
9.6 mi · 11 min · San Diego Freeway
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11
Keep slight left
42.5 mi · 49 min
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12
Take the exit slight right toward US 101 North, US 101 South: Ventura, Los Angeles
3062 ft · 1 min
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13
Keep slight left to continue on US 101 North: Ventura
3235 ft · 1 min
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14
Merge slight right onto Ventura Freeway
46.9 mi · 54 min · Ventura Freeway
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15
Keep slight left
18.5 mi · 21 min
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16
Continue on El Camino Real
16.4 mi · 19 min · El Camino Real
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17
Take the exit slight right toward CA 154: State Street, Cachuma Lake
1127 ft · 29 sec
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18
Continue on Calle Real
1672 ft · 40 sec · Calle Real
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19
Turn right onto Chumash Highway
23.9 mi · 33 min · Chumash Highway
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20
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Chumash Highway
35 m · 2 sec · Chumash Highway
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21
Exit the roundabout onto Chumash Highway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Chumash Highway
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22
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Chumash Highway
43 m · 2 sec · Chumash Highway
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23
Exit the roundabout onto Chumash Highway
6.3 mi · 10 min · Chumash Highway
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24
Take the ramp right toward US 101 North
1138 ft · 31 sec
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25
Merge slight left
56.5 mi · 1 hr 5 min
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26
Take the exit slight right toward Osos Street
139 m · 11 sec
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27
Continue on Osos Street
1586 ft · 1 min · Osos Street
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28
Turn left onto Monterey Street
620 ft · 23 sec · Monterey Street
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29
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Monterey Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Diego and San Luis Obispo.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
US 101 North
Merge slight left
56.5 mi · 01h 05m
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving San Diego and Mostly Sunny near San Luis Obispo.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Diego to San Luis Obispo?
The road trip is about 312 miles (502.1 km) and usually takes 06h 14m 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?
Agoura is a useful midpoint, sitting about 156 miles from San Diego and 156 miles from San Luis Obispo.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 267.4 miles (430.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.6 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 $63.52 one way or $127.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 97.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Diego and Mostly Sunny near San Luis Obispo.
Stop Ideas Near Agoura
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Sheraton Agoura Hills Hotel
City of Thousand Oaks
Reseda Neighborhood Council
Homewood Suites by Hilton Agoura Hills
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Agoura.
Simi Valley
Chatsworth station
Moorpark
Westwood-UCLA, CA
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and San Luis Obispo. Straight-line distance: 267.43 mi (430.38 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 Luis Obispo
A city in San Luis Obispo County, California.
| Population | 47,590 |
| Coordinates | 35.2827500, -120.6596200 |
| Altitude | 71 |
| Country | United States |
End: San Luis Obispo (-120.65962, 35.28275)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 502 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 23m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 48m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 14m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 12m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 27m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 53m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $63.52 | $127.03 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $66.79 | $133.57 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $68.74 | $137.47 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $83.31 | $166.63 |
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 19, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.