How far is San Diego, CA from Sonora, CA?
The driving distance from San Diego, CA to Sonora, CA is about 452.2 miles (727.7 km), with a travel time of about 08h 56m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 406.6 miles (654.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 17h 52m 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 56m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
City in Monterey County, California, United States
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 Sonora.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and Sonora.
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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 left to continue on Golden State Freeway
27.4 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway
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27
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
6 mi · 7 min · Golden State Freeway
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28
Continue on Golden State Highway
111.4 mi · 2 hr · Golden State Highway
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29
Take the exit slight right toward Avenue 7
2522 ft · 31 sec
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30
Merge slight left
21.4 mi · 24 min
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31
Keep slight right to continue on Northbound California State Route 99
22 mi · 25 min · Northbound California State Route 99
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32
Take the exit slight right toward CA 140 West, CA 59 North
3271 ft · 1 min
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33
Turn right onto V Street
998 ft · 24 sec · V Street
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34
Turn left onto West 16th Street
1917 ft · 33 sec · West 16th Street
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35
Turn right onto Snelling Highway
17.7 mi · 26 min · Snelling Highway
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36
Continue on La Grange Road
118 m · 7 sec · La Grange Road
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37
Continue on Merced Falls Road
2230 ft · 40 sec · Merced Falls Road
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38
Turn left onto La Grange Road
26.1 mi · 39 min · La Grange Road
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39
At the end of the road, turn right
7.3 mi · 10 min
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40
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
36 m · 2 sec
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41
Exit the roundabout
4.3 mi · 7 min
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42
Turn sharp left
61 m · 7 sec
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43
Turn straight onto Stockton Street
1.6 mi · 3 min · Stockton Street
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44
At the end of the road, turn left onto South Washington Street
150 m · 10 sec · South Washington Street
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45
Turn right onto Linoberg Street
49 m · 10 sec · Linoberg Street
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46
Turn right onto South Stewart Street
30 m · 3 sec · South Stewart Street
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47
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South Stewart Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Diego and Sonora.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Golden State Highway
Continue on Golden State Highway
111 mi · 02h 00m
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 Sonora.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Sonora?
The road trip is about 452.2 miles (727.7 km) and usually takes 08h 56m 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?
Greenfield is a useful midpoint, sitting about 226.2 miles from San Diego and 225.9 miles from Sonora.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 406.6 miles (654.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 45.6 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 $92.07 one way or $184.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 141.8 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Diego and Sunny near Sonora.
Stop Ideas Near Greenfield
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 Greenfield.
Bakersfield
Wasco station
Tehachapi, California
Mojave, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and Sonora. Straight-line distance: 406.59 mi (654.35 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 Sonora
City in California
| Population | 4,833 |
| Coordinates | 37.9840900, -120.3821400 |
| Altitude | 544 |
| Country | United States |
End: Sonora (-120.38214, 37.98409)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 728 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 15h 03m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 11h 18m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 02m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 32m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 27m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 38m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $92.07 | $184.15 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $96.81 | $193.63 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $99.64 | $199.28 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $120.77 | $241.54 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.