How far is San Diego, CA from Sausalito, CA?

The driving distance from San Diego, CA to Sausalito, CA is about 509.8 miles (820.5 km), with a travel time of about 09h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 464.9 miles (748.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 19h 33m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
509.8 mi
09h 46m
Flight
464.93 mi
748.23 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from San Diego.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
464.93 mi
Kilometers
748.23 km
Flight Time
00h 56m

Driving Distance

Road route
509.8 mi
Kilometers
820.45 km
Drive Time
09h 46m

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 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sausalito
Wed, May 13, 5:17 AM PDT
Return by in San Diego
Wed, May 13, 3:04 PM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Diego
2026-05-12T19:30
Arrive Sausalito
Wed, May 13, 5:17 AM PDT
Route Timing
09h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM PDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
3:47 PM to 5:17 PM PDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
4:26 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in San Diego
8:00 PM PDT
Overnight-style route

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.

Mid-route stop
Lost Hills
CA

Census-designated place in Kern County, California

From San Diego
255 mi
04h 53m
To Sausalito
254.8 mi
04h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Tuesday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 mph SW
Destination
89°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 6 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between San Diego and Sausalito.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and Sausalito.

  1. 1

    Start on Front Street

    8 m · 6 sec · Front Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West Broadway

    88 m · 12 sec · West Broadway

  3. 3

    Turn left onto 1st Avenue

    3072 ft · 1 min · 1st Avenue

  4. 4

    Take the ramp left toward I 5 North: Los Angeles

    1017 ft · 25 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway

    13.5 mi · 16 min · San Diego Freeway

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on San Diego Freeway

    36.3 mi · 43 min · San Diego Freeway

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway

    18.1 mi · 21 min · San Diego Freeway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on San Diego Freeway

    7.4 mi · 9 min · San Diego Freeway

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on Bake Parkway

    1.6 mi · 2 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right

    6 mi · 7 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward Jamboree Road

    1266 ft · 17 sec

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    527 ft · 11 sec

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Jamboree Road

    760 ft · 18 sec · Jamboree Road

  14. 14

    Turn left onto El Camino Real

    2.2 mi · 5 min · El Camino Real

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Newport Avenue

    109 m · 14 sec · Newport Avenue

  16. 16

    Take the ramp right toward I 5 North: Los Angeles

    1127 ft · 17 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

    1.3 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  19. 19

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    9.4 mi · 11 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

    18 mi · 21 min · Santa Ana Freeway

  21. 21

    Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Freeway

    25.5 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Golden State Freeway

  23. 23

    Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck

    1.5 mi · 2 min

  24. 24

    Keep slight left

    36.1 mi · 42 min

  25. 25

    Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

    22.3 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway

  26. 26

    Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway

    225.6 mi · 4 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway

  27. 27

    Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway

    15.9 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

  28. 28

    Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

  29. 29

    Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

    18 mi · 21 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

  30. 30

    Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

    11.6 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

  31. 31

    Keep slight right to continue on MacArthur Freeway

    8.3 mi · 10 min · MacArthur Freeway

  32. 32

    Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway

    7.2 mi · 8 min · MacArthur Freeway

  33. 33

    Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: San Francisco

    1.5 km · 1 min

  34. 34

    Merge slight right onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1015 ft · 17 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  35. 35

    Turn slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    1959 ft · 33 sec · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  36. 36

    Keep slight left to continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

    5.5 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

  37. 37

    Take the exit slight right toward Fremont Street, Folsom Street

    2386 ft · 44 sec

  38. 38

    Turn left onto Fremont Street

    1613 ft · 1 min · Fremont Street

  39. 39

    Continue on Front Street

    627 ft · 25 sec · Front Street

  40. 40

    Turn left onto California Street

    2.3 mi · 7 min · California Street

  41. 41

    Turn right onto Divisadero Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · Divisadero Street

  42. 42

    Turn left onto Lombard Street

    616 ft · 30 sec · Lombard Street

  43. 43

    Continue on Richardson Avenue

    1231 ft · 41 sec · Richardson Avenue

  44. 44

    Continue on Presidio Parkway

    1.8 mi · 4 min · Presidio Parkway

  45. 45

    Continue on Golden Gate Bridge

    1.7 mi · 3 min · Golden Gate Bridge

  46. 46

    Continue on Redwood Highway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Redwood Highway

  47. 47

    Take the exit slight right toward Spencer Avenue, Monte Mar Drive

    876 ft · 21 sec

  48. 48

    Turn right onto Spencer Avenue

    2733 ft · 1 min · Spencer Avenue

  49. 49

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Spencer Avenue

    69 m · 7 sec · Spencer Avenue

  50. 50

    Continue on Spencer Avenue

    46 m · 6 sec · Spencer Avenue

  51. 51

    Continue on Spencer Avenue

    60 m · 6 sec · Spencer Avenue

  52. 52

    Continue on San Carlos Avenue

    1990 ft · 1 min · San Carlos Avenue

  53. 53

    Turn sharp left onto Caledonia Street

    674 ft · 33 sec · Caledonia Street

  54. 54

    Turn right onto Pine Street

    50 m · 7 sec · Pine Street

  55. 55

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Pine Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between San Diego and Sausalito.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
55 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
226 mi · 44%
San Diego Freeway
75.2 mi · 15%
Golden State Freeway
50 mi · 10%
I 5 Truck North
37.7 mi · 7%
Santa Ana Freeway
30.4 mi · 6%
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
29.6 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

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.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
09h 46m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
19h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+44.9 mi
464.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lost Hills
04h 53m from San Diego
Leave By
4:26 PM PDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving San Diego and Sunny near Sausalito.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Sausalito?

The road trip is about 509.8 miles (820.5 km) and usually takes 09h 46m 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 255 miles from San Diego and 254.8 miles from Sausalito.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 464.9 miles (748.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.9 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 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 $103.78 one way or $207.57 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 159.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around San Diego and Sunny near Sausalito.

Stop Ideas Near Lost Hills

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Lost Hills, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Lost Hills.

RAIL

Wasco station

33 mi away
700 G Street
BUS

Kettleman City, California

47 mi away
3300 Hubert Way
RAIL

Corcoran station

55 mi away
1099 Otis Ave.
RAIL

Bakersfield

67 mi away
601 Truxtun Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and Sausalito. Straight-line distance: 464.93 mi (748.23 km).

San Diego

#1 San Diego

The eighth most populous city in the United States and the center of the San Diego metropolitan area.

Population1,422,420
Coordinates32.7157100, -117.1647200
Altitude20
CountryUnited States
Sausalito

#2 Sausalito

City in Marin County, California, United States

Population7,094
Coordinates37.8590900, -122.4852500
Altitude4
CountryUnited States
Start: San Diego (-117.16472, 32.71571)
End: Sausalito (-122.48525, 37.85909)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 820 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)16h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)12h 44m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)10h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)08h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)07h 16m
80 mph (129 km/h)06h 21m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
17.99 gal
68.1 L · about $103.78
Round trip
$207.57
35.98 gal · 136.2 L
Estimated CO2
159.9 kg one way
Round trip: 319.8 kg / 705 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $103.78 $207.57
Mid-grade $6.07 $109.13 $218.25
Premium $6.24 $112.31 $224.62
Diesel $7.57 $136.13 $272.26

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 13, 2026

There is no time difference between San Diego and Sausalito. The current time is 19:30:43.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.