How far is San Diego, CA from San Mateo, CA?
The driving distance from San Diego, CA to San Mateo, CA is about 489 miles (786.9 km), with a travel time of about 09h 19m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 443.9 miles (714.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 38m 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 19m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
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.
Mostly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Diego and San Mateo.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and San Mateo.
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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
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27
Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose
1038 ft · 27 sec
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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
16.2 mi · 19 min
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34
Take the exit slight right toward CA 92 West, CA 92 East: Half Moon Bay, Hayward, San Mateo Bridge
650 ft · 14 sec
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35
Keep slight left to continue on CA 92 West: Half Moon Bay
3099 ft · 43 sec
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36
Merge slight left onto J Arthur Younger Freeway
2145 ft · 33 sec · J Arthur Younger Freeway
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37
Take the exit slight right toward CA 82 : El Camino Real
993 ft · 33 sec
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38
Turn right onto South El Camino Real
1.1 mi · 3 min · South El Camino Real
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39
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South El Camino Real
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Diego and San Mateo.
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving San Diego and Sunny near San Mateo.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Diego to San Mateo?
The road trip is about 489 miles (786.9 km) and usually takes 09h 19m 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 244.6 miles from San Diego and 244.4 miles from San Mateo.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 443.9 miles (714.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 45.1 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 $99.52 one way or $199.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 153.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Diego and Sunny near San Mateo.
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 Mateo. Straight-line distance: 443.9 mi (714.39 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 Mateo
The second most populous city in San Mateo County, California.
| Population | 102,398 |
| Coordinates | 37.5629900, -122.3255300 |
| Altitude | 13 |
| Country | United States |
End: San Mateo (-122.32553, 37.56299)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 787 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 16h 17m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 12h 13m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 46m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 08m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 59m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 05m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $99.52 | $199.03 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $104.64 | $209.28 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $107.69 | $215.38 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $130.53 | $261.06 |
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 18, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.