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

The driving distance from San Diego, CA to Stratford, CA is about 310.3 miles (499.4 km), with a travel time of about 06h 00m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 283.8 miles (456.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 00m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
310.29 mi
06h 00m
Flight
283.77 mi
456.69 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
283.77 mi
Kilometers
456.69 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
310.29 mi
Kilometers
499.36 km
Drive Time
06h 00m

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 00m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Stratford
Fri, Oct 16, 12:17 AM PDT
Return by in San Diego
Fri, Oct 16, 6:17 AM PDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave San Diego
2026-10-15T18:17
Arrive Stratford
Fri, Oct 16, 12:17 AM PDT
Route Timing
06h 00m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM PDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
12:00 PM to 2:00 PM PDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
5:00 AM PDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in San Diego
9:00 PM PDT
Early departure recommended

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
Santa Clarita
CA

The second most populous city in Los Angeles County, California.

From San Diego
155.2 mi
03h 00m
To Stratford
155.2 mi
03h 00m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
88°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 7:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph N
Destination
85°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM PDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    88.4 mi · 1 hr 35 min · Westside Freeway

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right toward CA 41: Kettleman City, Fresno

    1978 ft · 48 sec

  28. 28

    Keep slight right

    97 m · 9 sec

  29. 29

    Merge slight left

    16.5 mi · 23 min

  30. 30

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1028 ft · 30 sec · Main Street

  31. 31

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Railroad Street

    10 m · 3 sec · Railroad Street

  32. 32

    Turn left onto Main Street

    125 m · 17 sec · Main Street

  33. 33

    Turn left

    20 m · 5 sec

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
34 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Westside Freeway
88.4 mi · 28%
San Diego Freeway
75.2 mi · 24%
Golden State Freeway
50 mi · 16%
I 5 Truck North
37.7 mi · 12%
Santa Ana Freeway
30.4 mi · 10%
CA 41
17 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Westside Freeway

Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway

88.4 mi · 01h 35m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
06h 00m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
12h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.5 mi
283.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Santa Clarita
03h 00m from San Diego
Leave By
5:00 AM PDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving San Diego and Sunny near Stratford.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 310.3 miles (499.4 km) and usually takes 06h 00m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Santa Clarita is a useful midpoint, sitting about 155.2 miles from San Diego and 155.2 miles from Stratford.

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

The direct path is about 283.8 miles (456.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.5 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 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:00 AM PDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $68.56 one way or $137.12 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 97.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Santa Clarita

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Santa Clarita, 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 Santa Clarita.

RAIL

Santa Clarita-Newhall, California

2 mi away
24300 Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Chatsworth station

16 mi away
10040 Old Depot Plaza Road
RAIL

Simi Valley

19 mi away
5050 Los Angeles Avenue
RAIL

Van Nuys station

22 mi away
7724 Van Nuys Blvd.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and Stratford. Straight-line distance: 283.77 mi (456.69 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
Photo coming soon

#2 Stratford

Located in Kings County within California's San Joaquin Valley, this census-designated place sits at an elevation of 203 feet near the bed of the former Tulare Lake.

Population0
Coordinates36.1894000, -119.8231900
Altitude62
CountryUnited States
Start: San Diego (-117.16472, 32.71571)
End: Stratford (-119.82319, 36.1894)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 499 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 45m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 12m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 52m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.95 gal
41.45 L · about $68.56
Round trip
$137.12
21.9 gal · 82.9 L
Estimated CO2
97.3 kg one way
Round trip: 194.6 kg / 429 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $6.26 $68.56 $137.12
Mid-grade $6.50 $71.16 $142.33
Premium $6.69 $73.24 $146.49
Diesel $8.41 $92.12 $184.24

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 · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between San Diego and Stratford. The current time is 18:17:21.

Distance to Other Cities

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