How far is Taft Heights, CA from San Diego, CA?
The driving distance from Taft Heights, CA to San Diego, CA is about 245.8 miles (395.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 23m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 213.1 miles (343 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 46m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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 04h 23m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
The second most populous city in the United States and the center of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
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 Taft Heights and San Diego.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Taft Heights and San Diego.
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1
Start on the route
24 m · 8 sec
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2
Turn right onto 6th Avenue
759 ft · 35 sec · 6th Avenue
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3
At the end of the road, turn right onto A Street
2326 ft · 2 min · A Street
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4
At the end of the road, turn right onto South 10th Street
5 m · 5 sec · South 10th Street
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5
Turn left onto Oak Street
863 ft · 25 sec · Oak Street
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6
Turn left onto South 6th Street
1465 ft · 43 sec · South 6th Street
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7
Turn right onto Main Street
1.2 km · 2 min · Main Street
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8
Turn right onto West Side Highway
5.9 mi · 8 min · West Side Highway
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9
Continue on California Street
2112 ft · 58 sec · California Street
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10
At the end of the road, turn left onto Poso Street
2486 ft · 50 sec · Poso Street
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11
Continue on Maricopa Highway
22.1 mi · 30 min · Maricopa Highway
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12
Take the exit slight right
2081 ft · 51 sec
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13
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
3.4 mi · 4 min · Westside Freeway
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14
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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15
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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16
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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17
Keep slight left
24.7 mi · 29 min
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18
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
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19
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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20
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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21
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
1.3 km · 57 sec
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22
Keep slight left
788 ft · 10 sec
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23
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
981 ft · 13 sec
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24
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 54 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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25
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 km · 52 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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26
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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27
Take the exit slight right toward Newport Avenue
1.2 km · 1 min
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28
Turn right onto Newport Avenue
1943 ft · 44 sec · Newport Avenue
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29
Turn left onto Walnut Avenue
2.2 mi · 4 min · Walnut Avenue
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30
Turn left onto Jamboree Road
2595 ft · 38 sec · Jamboree Road
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31
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South
1479 ft · 21 sec
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32
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
5.5 mi · 6 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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33
Keep slight left to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 56 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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34
Merge slight right onto San Diego Freeway
76.5 mi · 1 hr 29 min · San Diego Freeway
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35
Take the exit slight right toward Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
1164 ft · 28 sec
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36
Keep slight right to continue on Front Street, Civic Center
592 ft · 15 sec
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37
Continue on Front Street
2662 ft · 2 min · Front Street
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38
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Front Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Taft Heights and San Diego.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
San Diego Freeway
Merge slight right onto San Diego Freeway
76.5 mi · 01h 29m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Sunny leaving Taft Heights and Mostly Sunny near San Diego.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Taft Heights to San Diego?
The road trip is about 245.8 miles (395.6 km) and usually takes 04h 23m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Los Angeles is a useful midpoint, sitting about 120.4 miles from Taft Heights and 125.5 miles from San Diego.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 213.1 miles (343 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.7 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 8:00 AM PDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:14 AM PDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $50.07 one way or $100.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 77.1 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Taft Heights and Mostly Sunny near San Diego.
Stop Ideas Near Los Angeles
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Bell Gardens Inn Los Angeles
City of South El Monte City Hall
City of Los Angeles
City Of El Monte Public Works Department
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Union Station
Glendale Transportation Center
Pasadena, California
Westchester, CA
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Taft Heights and San Diego. Straight-line distance: 213.16 mi (343.04 km).
#1 Taft Heights
Census designated place
| Population | 1,949 |
| Coordinates | 35.1346900, -119.4726200 |
| Altitude | 359 |
| 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: 396 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 08h 11m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 08m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 54m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 05m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 30m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 04m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $50.07 | $100.15 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $52.65 | $105.31 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $54.19 | $108.38 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $65.68 | $131.36 |
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 30, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.