Origin
Acton, CA
Evening in Acton on Tuesday
Local time
6:56 PM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Acton, CA to San Diego, CA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 17m
Distance
181.2 mi
292 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 6m
★
6 AM
3h 18m
8 AM
3h 42m
10 AM
3h 26m
12 PM
3h 24m
3 PM
3h 27m
5 PM
3h 40m
8 PM
3h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Acton, CA
Stephen Leonardi
San Diego, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Acton, CA to San Diego, CA covers 181.2 miles and takes about 3h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Crown Valley Road, CA 14 South, Antelope Valley Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.65 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
90.6 miles from Acton, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 17m drive with frequent turns across 181.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Crown Valley Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Acton, CA to San Diego, CA is easy. At 3h 17m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Acton, CA to San Diego, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Crown Valley Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 14 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Antelope Valley Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Golden State Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 405 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Santa Ana Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Broadway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 5 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Crown Valley Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Acton, CA and San Diego, CA.
1
Start on Gillespie Avenue
148 ft
·
8 sec
·
Gillespie Avenue
2
Turn right onto Crown Valley Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Crown Valley Road
3
Take the ramp left toward CA 14 South: Los Angeles
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
CA 14 South: Los Angeles
4
Merge slight left onto Antelope Valley Freeway
23 mi
·
25 min
·
Antelope Valley Freeway
5
Keep slight left to continue on Antelope Valley Freeway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Antelope Valley Freeway
6
Keep slight left
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
7
Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Golden State Freeway
8
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 405 South
9
Keep slight left
25 mi
·
29 min
10
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Golden State Freeway
11
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
12
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
13
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
·
Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
14
Keep slight left
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
15
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
I 5 South
16
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
0.8 mi
·
54 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
17
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
18
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
19
Take the exit slight right toward Newport Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Newport Avenue
20
Turn right onto Newport Avenue
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Newport Avenue
21
Turn left onto Walnut Avenue
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Walnut Avenue
22
Turn left onto Jamboree Road
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
Jamboree Road
23
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
I 5 South
24
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
25
Keep slight left to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
0.8 mi
·
56 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
26
Merge slight right onto San Diego Freeway
76 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
San Diego Freeway
27
Take the exit slight right toward Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
28
Keep slight right to continue on Front Street, Civic Center
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Front Street, Civic Center
29
Continue on Front Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Front Street
30
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 90.6 miles from Acton, CA, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.6 miles or 1h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Diego, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Acton, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Acton, CA
This is one driving day of about 181.2 miles and 3h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Acton, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 90.6 mi from Acton, CA · 1h 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
91 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 90.6 miles from Acton, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in San Diego, CA
The final approach into San Diego, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around San Diego, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.65 one way
$83.29 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
63 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $42.92 | $85.83 |
| premium | $6.18 | $44.07 | $88.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $40.01 | $80.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54.4 | 0 | $19.03 | $8.70 |
| Efficient EV | 45.3 | 0 | $15.85 | $7.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 72.5 | 0 | $25.37 | $11.60 |
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
San Diego, CA
Evening in San Diego on Tuesday
Local time
6:56 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
14 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 17m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Acton, CA to San Diego, CA covers 181.2 miles and takes about 3h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Crown Valley Road, CA 14 South, Antelope Valley Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 90.6 miles from Acton, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $41.65 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Acton, CA to San Diego, CA is easy. At 3h 17m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Acton, CA to San Diego, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Acton, CA to San Diego, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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