How far is Thermalito, CA from San Diego, CA?
The driving distance from Thermalito, CA to San Diego, CA is about 578.9 miles (931.6 km), with a travel time of about 09h 36m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 530.3 miles (853.4 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 19h 13m 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 36m.
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 Kings County, California
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Thermalito and San Diego.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thermalito and San Diego.
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1
Start on 10th Street
934 ft · 41 sec · 10th Street
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2
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
1.3 km · 2 min · Grand Avenue
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3
Take the ramp right
1058 ft · 14 sec
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4
Merge slight left
14.2 mi · 16 min
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5
Continue straight
11.1 mi · 13 min
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6
Continue straight
1.5 mi · 3 min
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7
Turn right onto 5th Street
1272 ft · 31 sec · 5th Street
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8
Turn left onto E Street
4.2 mi · 5 min · E Street
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9
Keep slight right
17.5 mi · 20 min
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10
Merge slight left onto Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
4.9 mi · 6 min · Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
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11
Continue on Golden State Highway
7.7 mi · 9 min · Golden State Highway
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12
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
66.3 mi · 1 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
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13
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
1.2 km · 49 sec · Westside Freeway
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14
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
236.6 mi · 4 hr 14 min · Westside Freeway
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15
Keep slight right
58.4 mi · 1 hr 7 min
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16
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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17
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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18
Keep slight left
24.7 mi · 29 min
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19
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
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20
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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21
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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22
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
1.3 km · 57 sec
-
23
Keep slight left
788 ft · 10 sec
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24
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
981 ft · 13 sec
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25
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 54 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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26
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 km · 52 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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27
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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28
Take the exit slight right toward Newport Avenue
1.2 km · 1 min
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29
Turn right onto Newport Avenue
1943 ft · 44 sec · Newport Avenue
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30
Turn left onto Walnut Avenue
2.2 mi · 4 min · Walnut Avenue
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31
Turn left onto Jamboree Road
2595 ft · 38 sec · Jamboree Road
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32
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South
1479 ft · 21 sec
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33
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
5.5 mi · 6 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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34
Keep slight left to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 56 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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35
Merge slight right onto San Diego Freeway
76.5 mi · 1 hr 29 min · San Diego Freeway
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36
Take the exit slight right toward Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
1164 ft · 28 sec
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37
Keep slight right to continue on Front Street, Civic Center
592 ft · 15 sec
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38
Continue on Front Street
2662 ft · 2 min · Front Street
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39
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Front Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Thermalito and San Diego.
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 left to continue on Westside Freeway
237 mi · 04h 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 Thermalito 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 Thermalito to San Diego?
The road trip is about 578.9 miles (931.6 km) and usually takes 09h 36m 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?
Kettleman City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 286.5 miles from Thermalito and 292.4 miles from San Diego.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 530.3 miles (853.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 48.6 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 $117.86 one way or $235.72 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 181.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Thermalito and Partly Sunny near San Diego.
Stop Ideas Near Kettleman City
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 Kettleman City.
Kettleman City, California
Lemoore, California
Corcoran station
Lemoore (Naval Air Station), California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Thermalito and San Diego. Straight-line distance: 530.27 mi (853.39 km).
#1 Thermalito
Census-designated place in Butte County, California
| Population | 6,646 |
| Coordinates | 39.5112800, -121.5869200 |
| Altitude | 68 |
| 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: 932 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 19h 17m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 14h 28m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 11h 34m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 09h 38m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 08h 16m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 07h 13m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $117.86 | $235.72 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $123.93 | $247.86 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $127.54 | $255.09 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $154.59 | $309.19 |
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 13, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.