How far is San Diego, CA from Three Rivers, CA?
The driving distance from San Diego, CA to Three Rivers, CA is about 317.7 miles (511.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 22m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 275.6 miles (443.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 44m 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 06h 22m.
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.
Census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Diego and Three Rivers.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and Three Rivers.
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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
-
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
3.2 mi · 4 min · Golden State Freeway
-
28
Take the exit slight right toward CA 65: Porterville, Sequoia National Park
1 km · 1 min
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29
Continue on Porterville Highway
55.1 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Porterville Highway
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30
Turn right onto North Spruce Avenue
4.4 mi · 6 min · North Spruce Avenue
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31
Continue on South Spruce Road
3.5 mi · 5 min · South Spruce Road
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32
Turn right onto Avenue 296
2.1 mi · 3 min · Avenue 296
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33
Continue on Sierra Drive
16.7 mi · 29 min · Sierra Drive
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34
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Sierra Drive
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Diego and Three Rivers.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Porterville Highway
Continue on Porterville Highway
55.1 mi · 01h 03m
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.
Sunny leaving San Diego and Sunny near Three Rivers.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Three Rivers?
The road trip is about 317.7 miles (511.3 km) and usually takes 06h 22m 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?
Val Verde is a useful midpoint, sitting about 158.9 miles from San Diego and 158.8 miles from Three Rivers.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 275.6 miles (443.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 42.1 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 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 $70.19 one way or $140.37 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 99.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around San Diego and Sunny near Three Rivers.
Stop Ideas Near Val Verde
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 Val Verde.
Santa Clarita-Newhall, California
Simi Valley
Chatsworth station
Fillmore, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and Three Rivers. Straight-line distance: 275.61 mi (443.55 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 Three Rivers
Situated in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Tulare County at an elevation of 843 feet, this community lies at the confluence of the North, Middle, and South Forks of the Kaweah River.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 36.4388400, -118.9045400 |
| Altitude | 257 |
| Country | United States |
End: Three Rivers (-118.90454, 36.43884)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 511 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 35m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 56m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 21m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 17m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 32m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 57m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $6.26 | $70.19 | $140.37 |
| Mid-grade | $6.50 | $72.85 | $145.71 |
| Premium | $6.69 | $74.98 | $149.97 |
| Diesel | $8.41 | $94.31 | $188.62 |
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