How far is San Diego, CA from Thompson Falls, MT?
The driving distance from San Diego, CA to Thompson Falls, MT is about 1372.9 miles (2209.4 km), with a travel time of about 23h 44m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 1032.5 miles (1661.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 47h 29m 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 23h 44m.
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.
City in Utah County, Utah, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Patchy Smoke
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Diego and Thompson Falls.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and Thompson Falls.
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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
3088 ft · 1 min · West Broadway
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3
Turn left onto 11th Avenue
1146 ft · 25 sec · 11th Avenue
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4
Continue on Cabrillo Parkway
2.4 mi · 3 min · Cabrillo Parkway
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5
Continue on Cabrillo Freeway
8.3 mi · 10 min · Cabrillo Freeway
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6
Keep slight left
2688 ft · 35 sec
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7
Continue on Semper Fi Highway
1.8 mi · 2 min · Semper Fi Highway
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8
Continue on Escondido Freeway
3.1 mi · 4 min · Escondido Freeway
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9
Continue on Tony Gwynn Memorial Freeway
4.6 mi · 5 min · Tony Gwynn Memorial Freeway
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10
Continue on Escondido Freeway
5.9 mi · 7 min · Escondido Freeway
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11
Keep slight left to continue on Escondido Freeway
6.9 mi · 8 min · Escondido Freeway
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12
Continue on Avocado Highway
21.9 mi · 23 min · Avocado Highway
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13
Continue on Escondido Freeway
6.3 mi · 7 min · Escondido Freeway
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14
Take the exit slight right toward I 215
1510 ft · 18 sec
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15
Continue on Escondido Freeway
34.5 mi · 40 min · Escondido Freeway
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16
Keep slight right to continue on I 215 North: San Bernardino, Barstow
2413 ft · 51 sec
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17
Merge slight left onto Riverside Freeway
5.4 mi · 6 min · Riverside Freeway
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18
Continue on San Bernardino Freeway
5.5 mi · 6 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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19
Continue on Barstow Freeway
8.9 mi · 10 min · Barstow Freeway
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20
Keep slight left
1141 ft · 14 sec
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21
Continue on Barstow and Mojave Freeway
6.8 mi · 7 min · Barstow and Mojave Freeway
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22
Continue on CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway
5.4 mi · 6 min · CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway
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23
Continue on Barstow and Mojave Freeway
45.6 mi · 49 min · Barstow and Mojave Freeway
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24
Keep slight left to continue on Barstow and Mojave Freeway
112 mi · 2 hr · Barstow and Mojave Freeway
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25
Continue on Las Vegas Freeway
123.8 mi · 2 hr 10 min · Las Vegas Freeway
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26
Continue on Veterans Memorial Highway
353.6 mi · 5 hr 56 min · Veterans Memorial Highway
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27
Keep slight left to continue on Veterans Memorial Highway
55.3 mi · 56 min · Veterans Memorial Highway
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28
Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Memorial Highway
338.3 mi · 5 hr 19 min · Veterans Memorial Highway
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29
Take the exit slight left toward I 90 West: Missoula
2808 ft · 1 min
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30
Merge slight left onto I 90 West: Missoula
121.5 mi · 1 hr 57 min
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31
Take the exit slight right toward US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell
1009 ft · 25 sec
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32
Keep slight right to continue on US 93 North, MT 200 West: Kalispell
27.2 mi · 32 min
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33
Turn left
64.7 mi · 1 hr 36 min
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34
Turn right
154 m · 22 sec
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35
Keep slight right
40 m · 6 sec
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36
Turn right onto East Preston Avenue
130 m · 23 sec · East Preston Avenue
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37
Turn left onto Woodland Street
143 m · 21 sec · Woodland Street
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38
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Woodland Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Diego and Thompson Falls.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Veterans Memorial Highway
Continue on Veterans Memorial Highway
354 mi · 05h 56m
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 Patchy Smoke near Thompson Falls.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Thompson Falls?
The road trip is about 1372.9 miles (2209.4 km) and usually takes 23h 44m 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?
Santaquin is a useful midpoint, sitting about 686.5 miles from San Diego and 686.4 miles from Thompson Falls.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 1032.5 miles (1661.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 340.4 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 $279.45 one way or $558.90 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 430.5 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between San Diego and Thompson Falls, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around San Diego and Patchy Smoke near Thompson Falls.
Stop Ideas Near Santaquin
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 Santaquin.
Provo
Helper
Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub
Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and Thompson Falls. Straight-line distance: 1032.49 mi (1661.63 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 Thompson Falls
Town in Montana, United States
| Population | 1,432 |
| Coordinates | 47.5948900, -115.3383400 |
| Altitude | 779 |
| Country | United States |
End: Thompson Falls (-115.33834, 47.59489)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 2209 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 45h 44m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 34h 19m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 27h 27m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 22h 52m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 19h 36m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 17h 07m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $279.45 | $558.90 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $293.84 | $587.67 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $302.41 | $604.82 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $366.55 | $733.09 |
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 · Aug 24, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.