How far is San Diego, CA from Solana Beach, CA?

The driving distance from San Diego, CA to Solana Beach, CA is about 22.1 miles (35.5 km), with a travel time of about 00h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 20 miles (32.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 57m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
22.07 mi
00h 28m
Flight
20.01 mi
32.2 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from San Diego.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
20.01 mi
Kilometers
32.2 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
22.07 mi
Kilometers
35.52 km
Drive Time
00h 28m

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 00h 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Solana Beach
Sun, Apr 19, 8:33 AM PDT
Return by in San Diego
Sun, Apr 19, 9:02 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Diego
2026-04-19T08:04
Arrive Solana Beach
Sun, Apr 19, 8:33 AM PDT
Route Timing
00h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:29 AM to 7:29 PM PDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:32 PM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in San Diego
10:00 PM PDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Del Mar
CA

City in California

From San Diego
11.1 mi
00h 14m
To Solana Beach
11 mi
00h 14m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph NW
Destination
66°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and Solana Beach.

  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

    5.7 mi · 7 min · San Diego Freeway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward Via De La Valle

    1593 ft · 46 sec

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Via de la Valle

    1.6 km · 2 min · Via de la Valle

  9. 9

    Turn right onto South Cedros Avenue

    1.1 km · 2 min · South Cedros Avenue

  10. 10

    Turn left

    47 m · 12 sec

  11. 11

    At the end of the road, turn right

    113 m · 27 sec

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
12 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
54.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
San Diego Freeway
19.2 mi · 87%
Via De La Valle
1.27 mi · 6%
South Cedros Avenue
0.7 mi · 3%
1st Avenue
0.58 mi · 3%
I 5 North
0.19 mi · 1%
West Broadway
0.05 mi
Longest Stretch

San Diego Freeway

Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway

13.5 mi · 00h 16m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 28m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+2.1 mi
20 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Del Mar
00h 14m from San Diego
Leave By
7:32 PM PDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving San Diego and Mostly Sunny near Solana Beach.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Solana Beach?

The road trip is about 22.1 miles (35.5 km) and usually takes 00h 28m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Del Mar is a useful midpoint, sitting about 11.1 miles from San Diego and 11 miles from Solana Beach.

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

The direct path is about 20 miles (32.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 2.1 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:32 PM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.50 one way or $9.00 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Diego and Mostly Sunny near Solana Beach.

Stop Ideas Near Del Mar

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Del Mar and the surrounding midpoint area.
1906 Lodge
Coffee break 12.1 mi away

1906 Lodge

Coronado , CA
1060 Adella Ave, Coronado, CA 92118, United States
Rating 4.8/5 157 reviews Hotel,Bed & breakfast,Lodge
Crown City Inn
Food stop 11.5 mi away

Crown City Inn

Coronado , CA
520 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118, United States
Rating 4.6/5 225 reviews Hotel,Bistro,Restaurant
Hotel del Coronado, Curio Collection by Hilton
Stay option 12.3 mi away

Hotel del Coronado, Curio Collection by Hilton

Coronado , CA
1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118, United States
Rating 4.5/5 14,668 reviews Hotel
San Diego County Administration Center
Meeting point 9.7 mi away

San Diego County Administration Center

San Diego , CA
1600 Pacific Hwy, San Diego, CA 92101, United States
Rating 4.6/5 20 reviews County government office

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Del Mar.

RAIL

Solana Beach

4 mi away
105 North Cedros Avenue
RAIL

Sorrento Valley station

7 mi away
11170 Sorrento Valley Road
RAIL

Encinitas, CA

10 mi away
25 East D Street
RAIL

Carlsbad Poinsettia, CA

17 mi away
6511 Avenida Encinas

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and Solana Beach. Straight-line distance: 20.01 mi (32.2 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
Solana Beach

#2 Solana Beach

City in San Diego County, California, United States

Population13,190
Coordinates32.9911500, -117.2711500
Altitude22
CountryUnited States
Start: San Diego (-117.16472, 32.71571)
End: Solana Beach (-117.27115, 32.99115)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 36 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 44m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 33m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 26m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 22m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.78 gal
2.95 L · about $4.50
Round trip
$9.00
1.56 gal · 5.9 L
Estimated CO2
6.9 kg one way
Round trip: 13.9 kg / 31 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $5.77 $4.50 $9.00
Mid-grade $6.07 $4.73 $9.46
Premium $6.24 $4.87 $9.74
Diesel $7.57 $5.90 $11.80

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between San Diego and Solana Beach. The current time is 08:04:16.

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.