How far is San Diego, CA from Santa Rosa, CA?
The driving distance from San Diego, CA to Santa Rosa, CA is about 548.1 miles (882.1 km), with a travel time of about 10h 21m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 503.5 miles (810.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 20h 42m 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 10h 21m.
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.
Census-designated 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 Santa Rosa.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and Santa Rosa.
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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
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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
225.6 mi · 4 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway
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27
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
15.9 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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28
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
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29
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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30
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11.6 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
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31
Keep slight right to continue on MacArthur Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · MacArthur Freeway
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32
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · MacArthur Freeway
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33
Continue on Eastshore Freeway
3.3 mi · 4 min · Eastshore Freeway
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34
Keep slight right to continue on John T. Knox Freeway
12.9 mi · 17 min · John T. Knox Freeway
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35
Keep slight left to continue on US 101 North: San Rafeal
1.1 km · 54 sec
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36
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
37 mi · 43 min · Redwood Highway
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37
Take the exit slight right toward Third Street, Downtown
1256 ft · 31 sec
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38
Keep slight right to continue on Third Street, Downtown
775 ft · 25 sec
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39
Turn right onto 3rd Street
915 ft · 33 sec · 3rd Street
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40
Turn left onto B Street
100 m · 18 sec · B Street
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41
Turn right onto 4th Street
136 m · 12 sec · 4th Street
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42
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · 4th Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Diego and Santa Rosa.
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
226 mi · 04h 02m
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 Rosa.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Santa Rosa?
The road trip is about 548.1 miles (882.1 km) and usually takes 10h 21m 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?
Lost Hills is a useful midpoint, sitting about 274.1 miles from San Diego and 274 miles from Santa Rosa.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 503.5 miles (810.3 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 $111.57 one way or $223.14 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 171.9 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Diego and Sunny near Santa Rosa.
Stop Ideas Near Lost Hills
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 Lost Hills.
Wasco station
Kettleman City, California
Corcoran station
Bakersfield
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and Santa Rosa. Straight-line distance: 503.47 mi (810.26 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 Rosa
The fifth most populous city in California.
| Population | 174,613 |
| Coordinates | 38.4404700, -122.7144300 |
| Altitude | 50 |
| Country | United States |
End: Santa Rosa (-122.71443, 38.44047)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 882 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 18h 15m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 13h 42m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 57m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 09h 08m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 49m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 50m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $111.57 | $223.14 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $117.32 | $234.63 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $120.74 | $241.48 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $146.35 | $292.69 |
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.