How far is Santa Clara, CA from Chula Vista, CA?
The driving distance from Santa Clara, CA to Chula Vista, CA is about 479 miles (770.8 km), with a travel time of about 07h 33m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 426.6 miles (686.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 06m 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 07h 33m.
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 Monterey County, California, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Santa Clara and Chula Vista.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Clara and Chula Vista.
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1
Start on Lincoln Street
638 ft · 20 sec · Lincoln Street
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2
Turn left onto El Camino Real
2617 ft · 1 min · El Camino Real
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3
Turn slight right
46 m · 7 sec
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4
Turn slight right onto Lafayette Street
3205 ft · 1 min · Lafayette Street
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5
Turn left onto Market Street
925 ft · 29 sec · Market Street
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6
Continue on The Alameda
1708 ft · 39 sec · The Alameda
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7
Continue on The Alameda
2579 ft · 1 min · The Alameda
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8
Take the ramp slight right toward I 880 North: Oakland
820 ft · 22 sec
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9
Merge slight left
1.8 mi · 2 min
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10
Take the exit right toward US 101 South: Los Angeles
1515 ft · 39 sec
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11
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
32.1 mi · 37 min · Bayshore Freeway
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12
Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
1539 ft · 40 sec
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13
Turn left onto East 10th Street
108 m · 13 sec · East 10th Street
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14
Continue on Pacheco Pass Highway
40.6 mi · 50 min · Pacheco Pass Highway
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15
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles
3148 ft · 1 min
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16
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
181.1 mi · 3 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
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17
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
-
18
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
-
20
Keep slight left
24.7 mi · 29 min
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21
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
-
22
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway
-
23
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
-
24
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
1.3 km · 57 sec
-
25
Keep slight left
788 ft · 10 sec
-
26
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
981 ft · 13 sec
-
27
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 54 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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28
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 km · 52 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
-
29
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway
-
30
Take the exit slight right toward Newport Avenue
1.2 km · 1 min
-
31
Turn right onto Newport Avenue
1943 ft · 44 sec · Newport Avenue
-
32
Turn left onto Walnut Avenue
2.2 mi · 4 min · Walnut Avenue
-
33
Turn left onto Jamboree Road
2595 ft · 38 sec · Jamboree Road
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34
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South
1479 ft · 21 sec
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35
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
5.5 mi · 6 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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36
Keep slight left to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 56 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
-
37
Merge slight right onto San Diego Freeway
62.4 mi · 1 hr 13 min · San Diego Freeway
-
38
Take the exit slight left
1.3 km · 55 sec
-
39
Continue on Jacob Dekema Freeway
18.6 mi · 21 min · Jacob Dekema Freeway
-
40
Take the exit slight right toward CA 54 East, CA 54 West
1234 ft · 30 sec
-
41
Keep slight right to continue on CA 54 West
1631 ft · 40 sec
-
42
Merge slight left onto South Bay Freeway
2230 ft · 27 sec · South Bay Freeway
-
43
Take the exit slight right toward Highland Avenue, 4th Avenue
1451 ft · 44 sec
-
44
Turn left onto Highland Avenue
1711 ft · 31 sec · Highland Avenue
-
45
Continue on 4th Avenue
1.5 km · 2 min · 4th Avenue
-
46
Turn right onto F Street
98 m · 34 sec · F Street
-
47
Continue on F Street
83 m · 5 sec · F Street
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48
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · F Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Santa Clara and Chula Vista.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Westside Freeway
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
181 mi · 03h 14m
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 Santa Clara and Mostly Sunny near Chula Vista.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Santa Clara to Chula Vista?
The road trip is about 479 miles (770.8 km) and usually takes 07h 33m 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?
Greenfield is a useful midpoint, sitting about 236.4 miles from Santa Clara and 242.5 miles from Chula Vista.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 426.6 miles (686.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 52.4 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 $97.50 one way or $194.99 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 150.2 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Santa Clara and Mostly Sunny near Chula Vista.
Stop Ideas Near Greenfield
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 Greenfield.
Bakersfield
Wasco station
Tehachapi, California
Mojave, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Santa Clara and Chula Vista. Straight-line distance: 426.59 mi (686.53 km).
#1 Santa Clara
The third most populous city in Santa Clara County, California.
| Population | 131,055 |
| Coordinates | 37.3541100, -121.9552400 |
| Altitude | 23 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Chula Vista
The second most populous city in San Diego County, California.
| Population | 272,979 |
| Coordinates | 32.6400500, -117.0842000 |
| Altitude | 21 |
| Country | United States |
End: F Street (-117.084196, 32.640039)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 771 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 15h 57m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 11h 58m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 34m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 58m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 50m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 58m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $97.50 | $194.99 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $102.52 | $205.03 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $105.51 | $211.01 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $127.88 | $255.76 |
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 22, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.