How far is Tuolumne City, CA from San Diego, CA?
The driving distance from Tuolumne City, CA to San Diego, CA is about 466.9 miles (751.4 km), with a travel time of about 08h 12m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 401.8 miles (646.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 16h 25m 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 08h 12m.
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.
The fifth most populous city in California and the center of the Bakersfield metropolitan area.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Light Rain
Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Tuolumne City and San Diego.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tuolumne City and San Diego.
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1
Start on the route
125 m · 24 sec
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2
Turn left
891 ft · 28 sec
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3
Turn left onto Tuolumne Road
6.7 mi · 12 min · Tuolumne Road
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4
At the end of the road, turn left onto Mono Way
1.2 km · 1 min · Mono Way
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5
Turn left
1097 ft · 40 sec
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6
Turn straight
6.3 mi · 9 min
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7
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
32 m · 2 sec
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8
Exit the roundabout
3.7 mi · 5 min
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9
Continue straight
3.6 mi · 5 min
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10
Turn left onto La Grange Road
26.1 mi · 39 min · La Grange Road
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11
At the end of the road, turn right onto Merced Falls Road
2230 ft · 38 sec · Merced Falls Road
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12
Continue on La Grange Road
118 m · 7 sec · La Grange Road
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13
Continue on 2nd Street
18 mi · 27 min · 2nd Street
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14
Turn right onto CA 59 South
43 m · 5 sec
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15
Turn right onto V Street
1216 ft · 25 sec · V Street
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16
Turn left onto West 13th Street
1919 ft · 34 sec · West 13th Street
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17
Take the ramp slight left toward CA 99 South
1237 ft · 30 sec
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18
Merge slight left
1736 ft · 23 sec
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19
Continue straight
55.5 mi · 1 hr 3 min
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20
Keep slight left
41 mi · 44 min
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21
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Highway
58.6 mi · 1 hr 3 min · Golden State Highway
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22
Continue on Golden State Freeway
5.2 mi · 6 min · Golden State Freeway
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23
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
27.4 mi · 30 min · Golden State Freeway
-
24
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
58.2 mi · 1 hr 7 min · Golden State Freeway
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25
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi · 5 min · Golden State Freeway
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26
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
1354 ft · 18 sec
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27
Keep slight left
24.7 mi · 29 min
-
28
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway
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29
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
25.7 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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30
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1241 ft · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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31
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
1.3 km · 57 sec
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32
Keep slight left
788 ft · 10 sec
-
33
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
981 ft · 13 sec
-
34
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 54 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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35
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 km · 52 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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36
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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37
Take the exit slight right toward Newport Avenue
1.2 km · 1 min
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38
Turn right onto Newport Avenue
1943 ft · 44 sec · Newport Avenue
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39
Turn left onto Walnut Avenue
2.2 mi · 4 min · Walnut Avenue
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40
Turn left onto Jamboree Road
2595 ft · 38 sec · Jamboree Road
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41
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South
1479 ft · 21 sec
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42
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
5.5 mi · 6 min · Santa Ana Freeway
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43
Keep slight left to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 km · 56 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
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44
Merge slight right onto San Diego Freeway
76.5 mi · 1 hr 29 min · San Diego Freeway
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45
Take the exit slight right toward Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
1164 ft · 28 sec
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46
Keep slight right to continue on Front Street, Civic Center
592 ft · 15 sec
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47
Continue on Front Street
2662 ft · 2 min · Front Street
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48
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Front Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Tuolumne City and San Diego.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
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 Light Rain leaving Tuolumne City 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 Tuolumne City to San Diego?
The road trip is about 466.9 miles (751.4 km) and usually takes 08h 12m 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?
Bakersfield is a useful midpoint, sitting about 230.7 miles from Tuolumne City and 236.3 miles from San Diego.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 401.8 miles (646.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 65.1 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 $95.07 one way or $190.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 146.5 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Light Rain around Tuolumne City and Mostly Sunny near San Diego.
Stop Ideas Near Bakersfield
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 Bakersfield.
Bakersfield
Wasco station
Tehachapi, California
Mojave, California
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Tuolumne City and San Diego. Straight-line distance: 401.8 mi (646.63 km).
#1 Tuolumne City
Census-designated place in Tuolumne County, California
| Population | 1,779 |
| Coordinates | 37.9627000, -120.2413000 |
| Altitude | 790 |
| 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: 751 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 15h 33m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 11h 40m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 09h 20m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 07h 46m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 06h 40m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 05h 49m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $5.77 | $95.07 | $190.15 |
| Mid-grade | $6.07 | $99.97 | $199.94 |
| Premium | $6.24 | $102.88 | $205.77 |
| Diesel | $7.57 | $124.70 | $249.41 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.