How far is San Diego, CA from Truckee, CA?
The driving distance from San Diego, CA to Truckee, CA is about 604.8 miles (973.3 km), with a travel time of about 11h 20m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 486.9 miles (783.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 22h 41m 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 11h 20m.
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 Kings County, California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Cloudy
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Diego and Truckee.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego and Truckee.
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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 right to continue on Westside Freeway
225.6 mi · 4 hr 2 min · Westside Freeway
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27
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
25.5 mi · 28 min · Westside Freeway
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28
Keep left to continue on Westside Freeway
46 mi · 51 min · Westside Freeway
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29
Take the exit slight right toward US 50, I 80 East: San Francisco, South Lake Tahoe
975 ft · 13 sec
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30
Keep slight right to continue on US 50 East, I 80 Business East: South Lake Tahoe, Broadway
809 ft · 13 sec
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31
Keep slight left to continue on US 50 East, I 80 East: South Lake Tahoe
1.1 km · 1 min
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32
Merge slight left onto Capital City Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Capital City Freeway
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33
Keep slight right to continue on Capital City Freeway
9.4 mi · 10 min · Capital City Freeway
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34
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
7 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
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35
Continue on Alan S. Hart Freeway
78 mi · 1 hr 30 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
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36
Take the exit slight right toward Donner Lake
2253 ft · 30 sec
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37
Merge slight left onto Alan S. Hart Freeway
4.9 mi · 6 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway
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38
Take the exit slight right toward Central Truckee
1576 ft · 23 sec
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39
Turn right onto Donner Pass Road
51 m · 6 sec · Donner Pass Road
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40
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Donner Pass Road
33 m · 3 sec · Donner Pass Road
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41
Exit the rotary onto Donner Pass Road
2733 ft · 2 min · Donner Pass Road
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42
Turn right
24 m · 6 sec
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43
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Diego and Truckee.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
226 mi · 04h 02m
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 Cloudy leaving San Diego and Sunny near Truckee.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Truckee?
The road trip is about 604.8 miles (973.3 km) and usually takes 11h 20m 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?
Avenal is a useful midpoint, sitting about 302.5 miles from San Diego and 302.2 miles from Truckee.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 486.9 miles (783.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 117.9 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 $123.11 one way or $246.22 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 189.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around San Diego and Sunny near Truckee.
Stop Ideas Near Avenal
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 Avenal.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Corcoran station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Diego and Truckee. Straight-line distance: 486.92 mi (783.62 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 Truckee
City in Nevada County, California, United States
| Population | 16,982 |
| Coordinates | 39.3279600, -120.1832500 |
| Altitude | 1773 |
| Country | United States |
End: Truckee (-120.18325, 39.32796)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 973 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 20h 09m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 15h 07m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 12h 05m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 10h 04m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 08h 38m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 07h 32m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $123.11 | $246.22 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $129.45 | $258.90 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $133.23 | $266.45 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $161.48 | $322.96 |
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 · May 25, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.