How far is San Diego, CA from Santa Clara, CA?
The driving distance from San Diego, CA to Santa Clara, CA is about 464.8 miles (748 km), with a travel time of about 08h 52m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 419.5 miles (675.2 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 45m 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 08h 52m.
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.
Mostly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Diego and Santa Clara.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and Santa Clara.
-
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
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
-
29
Keep slight right
11.9 mi · 17 min
-
30
Take the exit slight right toward US 101 North: San Jose
2466 ft · 1 min
-
31
Merge slight left onto South Valley Freeway
19.9 mi · 23 min · South Valley Freeway
-
32
Keep slight left
12.4 mi · 14 min
-
33
Take the exit right toward I 880 South: Los Gatos, Santa Cruz
731 ft · 20 sec
-
34
Merge slight left onto Nimitz Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Nimitz Freeway
-
35
Take the exit slight right toward Coleman Avenue, Mineta San Jose International Airport
1554 ft · 42 sec
-
36
Turn right onto Coleman Avenue
1.2 mi · 2 min · Coleman Avenue
-
37
Turn slight left onto CA 82: Santa Clara
1503 ft · 55 sec
-
38
Turn straight onto De La Cruz Boulevard
114 m · 6 sec · De La Cruz Boulevard
-
39
Turn slight right onto Civic Center, El Camino Real
721 ft · 27 sec
-
40
Turn left onto El Camino Real
3163 ft · 1 min · El Camino Real
-
41
Turn right onto Lincoln Street
643 ft · 18 sec · Lincoln Street
-
42
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Lincoln Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Diego and Santa Clara.
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 Santa Clara.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Santa Clara?
The road trip is about 464.8 miles (748 km) and usually takes 08h 52m 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 232.5 miles from San Diego and 232.3 miles from Santa Clara.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 419.5 miles (675.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 45.3 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 $94.61 one way or $189.22 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 145.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Diego and Sunny near Santa Clara.
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 Santa Clara. Straight-line distance: 419.58 mi (675.25 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 Santa Clara
The third most populous city in Santa Clara County, California.
| Population | 131,055 |
| Coordinates | 37.3541100, -121.9552400 |
| Altitude | 23 |
| Country | United States |
End: Santa Clara (-121.95524, 37.35411)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 748 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 15h 29m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 11h 37m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 17m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 44m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 38m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 47m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $94.61 | $189.22 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $99.48 | $198.96 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $102.39 | $204.77 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $124.10 | $248.20 |
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 22, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.