How far is San Diego, CA from Santa Margarita, CA?
The driving distance from San Diego, CA to Santa Margarita, CA is about 322.1 miles (518.4 km), with a travel time of about 06h 25m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 270.2 miles (434.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 51m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PST.
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 25m.
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.
Community in California, USA
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 Santa Margarita.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and Santa Margarita.
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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
65.3 mi · 1 hr 15 min
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26
Take the exit slight right toward CA 58: Santa Margarita
1.5 mi · 3 min
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27
Turn right onto Encina Avenue
131 m · 14 sec · Encina Avenue
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28
Turn right onto H Street
838 ft · 23 sec · H Street
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29
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · H Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Diego and Santa Margarita.
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
65.3 mi · 01h 15m
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 Santa Margarita.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Santa Margarita?
The road trip is about 322.1 miles (518.4 km) and usually takes 06h 25m 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?
Westlake Village is a useful midpoint, sitting about 160.6 miles from San Diego and 161.4 miles from Santa Margarita.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 270.2 miles (434.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 51.9 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 PST. 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 $66.34 one way or $132.68 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 101 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Diego and Sunny near Santa Margarita.
Stop Ideas Near Westlake Village
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Bella Capri Inn & Suites
Homewood Suites by Hilton Agoura Hills
City of Thousand Oaks
Westlake Village Planning
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Westlake Village.
Moorpark
Simi Valley
Camarillo station
Chatsworth station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and Santa Margarita. Straight-line distance: 270.18 mi (434.81 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 Margarita
Located in inland San Luis Obispo County at an elevation of 1,010 feet, this rural community is situated between the Santa Lucia and La Panza mountain ranges near the headwaters of the Salinas River.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 35.3899700, -120.6090600 |
| Altitude | 308 |
| Country | United States |
End: Santa Margarita (-120.60906, 35.38997)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 518 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 43m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 03m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 26m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 22m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 36m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 01m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.84 | $66.34 | $132.68 |
| Mid-grade | $6.09 | $69.14 | $138.27 |
| Premium | $6.28 | $71.30 | $142.59 |
| Diesel | $8.28 | $94.07 | $188.14 |
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 · Nov 06, 2026