How far is South Lake Tahoe, CA from San Diego, CA?
The driving distance from South Lake Tahoe, CA to San Diego, CA is about 530.2 miles (853.2 km), with a travel time of about 09h 16m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 457.6 miles (736.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 18h 33m 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 09h 16m.
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 Inyo County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Snow Showers then Mostly Sunny
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between South Lake Tahoe and San Diego.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Lake Tahoe and San Diego.
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1
Start on El Dorado Avenue
688 ft · 24 sec · El Dorado Avenue
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2
At the end of the road, turn left onto Oakland Avenue
1994 ft · 57 sec · Oakland Avenue
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3
Turn right onto Los Angeles Avenue
1185 ft · 38 sec · Los Angeles Avenue
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4
At the end of the road, turn left onto Lake Tahoe Boulevard
2.6 mi · 5 min · Lake Tahoe Boulevard
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5
Continue on Lincoln Highway
1.1 km · 2 min · Lincoln Highway
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6
Take the exit right toward Kingsbury Grade
11.1 mi · 20 min · Kingsbury Grade
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7
Turn right onto Foothill Road
1.3 mi · 2 min · Foothill Road
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8
Turn left onto Centerville Lane
2.8 mi · 5 min · Centerville Lane
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9
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Centerville Lane
20 m · 1 sec · Centerville Lane
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10
Exit the roundabout onto Centerville Lane
1.2 mi · 2 min · Centerville Lane
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11
Continue on Centerville Lane
1.2 km · 1 min · Centerville Lane
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12
Continue on Dresslerville Road
1.4 mi · 3 min · Dresslerville Road
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13
Continue on Riverview Drive
3003 ft · 2 min · Riverview Drive
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14
Turn right onto Main Street
18.7 mi · 26 min · Main Street
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15
Continue on Route 395
43.3 mi · 56 min · Route 395
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16
Turn left onto Emigrant Street
2635 ft · 42 sec · Emigrant Street
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17
At the end of the road, turn right onto Sinclair Street
549 ft · 14 sec · Sinclair Street
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18
Turn left onto Main Street
70.9 mi · 1 hr 25 min · Main Street
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19
Take the exit slight right
1401 ft · 18 sec
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20
Take the ramp straight
780 ft · 10 sec
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21
Merge slight left
16 mi · 19 min
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22
Turn right onto North Barlow Lane
1 mi · 2 min · North Barlow Lane
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23
Turn left onto West Line Street
1.5 mi · 3 min · West Line Street
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24
Turn right onto South Main Street
2.4 mi · 4 min · South Main Street
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25
Continue on El Camino Sierra
5 mi · 6 min · El Camino Sierra
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26
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
7.4 mi · 9 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
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27
Continue on North Main Street
1317 ft · 32 sec · North Main Street
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28
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
26.1 mi · 31 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
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29
Continue on North Edwards Street
1.1 km · 2 min · North Edwards Street
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30
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
15.1 mi · 18 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
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31
Continue on North Main Street
2.2 mi · 5 min · North Main Street
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32
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
56.1 mi · 1 hr 5 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
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33
Continue on Blue Star Memorial Highway
7 mi · 8 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway
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34
Keep slight left to continue on Blue Star Memorial Highway
29.7 mi · 35 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway
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35
Continue on Red Mountain Road
1.5 km · 2 min · Red Mountain Road
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36
Continue on Blue Star Memorial Highway
66.7 mi · 1 hr 21 min · Blue Star Memorial Highway
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37
Take the exit straight toward I 15 South: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
1.1 km · 1 min
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38
Merge slight left onto Barstow and Mojave Freeway
3.4 mi · 4 min · Barstow and Mojave Freeway
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39
Continue on CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway
5.6 mi · 6 min · CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway
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40
Continue on Barstow and Mojave Freeway
6.3 mi · 7 min · Barstow and Mojave Freeway
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41
Continue on Barstow Freeway
1095 ft · 13 sec · Barstow Freeway
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42
Keep slight left to continue on Barstow Freeway
9.3 mi · 10 min · Barstow Freeway
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43
Continue on San Bernardino Freeway
5.6 mi · 6 min · San Bernardino Freeway
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44
Continue on Riverside Freeway
5.3 mi · 6 min · Riverside Freeway
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45
Take the exit slight right toward I 215 South, CA 60 East: San Diego, Indio
5.1 mi · 6 min
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46
Keep slight right to continue on I 215, CA 60 Truck
2512 ft · 33 sec
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47
Keep slight right
36.3 mi · 41 min
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48
Continue on Avocado Highway
21.9 mi · 24 min · Avocado Highway
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49
Continue on Escondido Freeway
3.4 mi · 4 min · Escondido Freeway
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50
Keep slight right to continue on Escondido Freeway
8.7 mi · 10 min · Escondido Freeway
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51
Continue on Tony Gwynn Memorial Freeway
4.5 mi · 5 min · Tony Gwynn Memorial Freeway
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52
Continue on Escondido Freeway
3.1 mi · 4 min · Escondido Freeway
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53
Continue on Semper Fi Highway
2.2 mi · 3 min · Semper Fi Highway
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54
Take the exit slight right toward CA 163 South
1.2 km · 52 sec
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55
Continue on Cabrillo Freeway
8.2 mi · 9 min · Cabrillo Freeway
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56
Continue on Cabrillo Parkway
1.5 mi · 2 min · Cabrillo Parkway
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57
Continue on Cabrillo Parkway
1.3 km · 1 min · Cabrillo Parkway
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58
Continue on 10th Avenue
1507 ft · 42 sec · 10th Avenue
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59
Turn right onto Broadway
2811 ft · 1 min · Broadway
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60
Turn left onto Front Street
8 m · 1 sec · Front Street
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61
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Front Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between South Lake Tahoe and San Diego.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
70.9 mi · 01h 25m
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.
Chance Snow Showers then Mostly Sunny leaving South Lake Tahoe and Partly Sunny near San Diego.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from South Lake Tahoe to San Diego?
The road trip is about 530.2 miles (853.2 km) and usually takes 09h 16m 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?
Lone Pine is a useful midpoint, sitting about 265 miles from South Lake Tahoe and 265.2 miles from San Diego.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 457.6 miles (736.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 72.6 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 $107.94 one way or $215.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 166.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Snow Showers then Mostly Sunny around South Lake Tahoe and Partly Sunny near San Diego.
Stop Ideas Near Lone Pine
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 Lone Pine.
Visalia, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between South Lake Tahoe and San Diego. Straight-line distance: 457.64 mi (736.5 km).
#1 South Lake Tahoe
City in California
| Population | 22,847 |
| Coordinates | 38.9332400, -119.9843500 |
| Altitude | 1901 |
| Country | United States |
#2 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 |
End: Front Street (-117.164717, 32.71571)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 853 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 17h 39m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 13h 15m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 10h 36m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 08h 50m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 34m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 36m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $107.94 | $215.88 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $113.49 | $226.99 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $116.81 | $233.61 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $141.58 | $283.16 |
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 · Apr 17, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.