How far is San Luis Obispo, CA from Morro Bay, CA?
The driving distance from San Luis Obispo, CA to Morro Bay, CA is about 13 miles (21 km), with a travel time of about 00h 17m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 12.2 miles (19.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 35m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This is an easy same-day return drive.
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 00h 17m.
This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.
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
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay.
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1
Start on Monterey Street
36 m · 8 sec · Monterey Street
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2
Turn right onto Santa Rosa Street
2.2 mi · 4 min · Santa Rosa Street
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3
Continue on Cabrillo Highway
10 mi · 12 min · Cabrillo Highway
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4
Take the exit slight right toward Morro Bay Boulevard
1168 ft · 29 sec
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5
Turn straight onto Morro Bay Boulevard
1001 ft · 20 sec · Morro Bay Boulevard
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6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Morro Bay Boulevard
30 m · 2 sec · Morro Bay Boulevard
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7
Exit the roundabout onto Morro Bay Boulevard
2681 ft · 59 sec · Morro Bay Boulevard
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8
Turn left onto Main Street
12 m · 1 sec · Main Street
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9
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Main Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay.
Turn-heavy local drive
The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.
Cabrillo Highway
Continue on Cabrillo Highway
9.95 mi · 00h 12m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A short regional drive
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny leaving San Luis Obispo and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near Morro Bay.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from San Luis Obispo to Morro Bay?
The road trip is about 13 miles (21 km) and usually takes 00h 17m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Cayucos is a useful midpoint, sitting about 6.5 miles from San Luis Obispo and 6.5 miles from Morro Bay.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 12.2 miles (19.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 0.8 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:54 PM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.65 one way or $5.31 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 4.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny around San Luis Obispo and Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny near Morro Bay.
Stop Ideas Near Cayucos
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
The Carlton Hotel
Avila Lighthouse Suites
City of San Luis Obispo Parking Services
Atascadero City Hall
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Cayucos.
Atascadero, California
Paso Robles station
San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly), California
San Luis Obispo
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay. Straight-line distance: 12.17 mi (19.58 km).
#1 San Luis Obispo
A city in San Luis Obispo County, California.
| Population | 47,590 |
| Coordinates | 35.2827500, -120.6596200 |
| Altitude | 71 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Morro Bay
City in San Luis Obispo County, California.
| Population | 10,560 |
| Coordinates | 35.3658100, -120.8499000 |
| Altitude | 19 |
| Country | United States |
End: Morro Bay (-120.8499, 35.36581)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 21 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 00h 26m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 00h 19m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 00h 15m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 13m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 11m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 09m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $2.65 | $5.31 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $2.79 | $5.58 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $2.87 | $5.74 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $3.48 | $6.96 |
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 · Jun 03, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.