Origin
Bodfish, CA
Morning in Bodfish on Thursday
Local time
9:52 AM
PDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bodfish, CA to San Diego, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 17m
Distance
287.4 mi
463 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$66
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 4m
★
6 AM
5h 18m
8 AM
5h 45m
10 AM
5h 27m
12 PM
5h 24m
3 PM
5h 28m
5 PM
5h 43m
8 PM
5h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Diego, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Bodfish, CA to San Diego, CA covers 287.4 miles and takes about 5h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Caliente Bodfish Road, Lake Isabella Boulevard, Elizabeth Norris Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $66.06 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
143.7 miles from Bodfish, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 38m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 17m. Total distance: 287.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 17m drive with frequent turns across 287.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 37 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Caliente Bodfish 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 17m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bodfish, CA to San Diego, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Caliente Bodfish Road | — | — |
| Lake Isabella Boulevard | — | — |
| Elizabeth Norris Road | — | — |
| CA 178 | — | — |
| Isabella Walker Pass Road | — | — |
| Route 178 | — | — |
| CHP Officer David W | — | — |
| 24th Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Caliente Bodfish Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bodfish, CA and San Diego, CA.
1
Start on Columbus Avenue
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
Columbus Avenue
2
Turn right onto Caliente Bodfish Road
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Caliente Bodfish Road
3
Continue on Lake Isabella Boulevard
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Lake Isabella Boulevard
4
Turn left onto Elizabeth Norris Road
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
Elizabeth Norris Road
5
Take the ramp slight right toward CA 178
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
CA 178
6
Merge slight left onto Isabella Walker Pass Road
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
Isabella Walker Pass Road
7
Continue on Route 178
32 mi
·
46 min
·
Route 178
8
Continue on CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway
7.3 mi
·
8 min
·
CHP Officer David W. Manning Memorial Freeway
9
Continue on 24th Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
24th Street
10
Continue on Rosedale Highway
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Rosedale Highway
11
Take the ramp slight right toward CA 99 South, CA 58 East
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
CA 99 South, CA 58 East
12
Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway
26 mi
·
28 min
·
Golden State Freeway
13
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Golden State Freeway
14
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
15
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 405 South
16
Keep slight left
25 mi
·
29 min
17
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Golden State Freeway
18
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
19
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
20
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
·
Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
21
Keep slight left
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
22
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
I 5 South
23
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
0.8 mi
·
54 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
24
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
25
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
26
Take the exit slight right toward Newport Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Newport Avenue
27
Turn right onto Newport Avenue
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Newport Avenue
28
Turn left onto Walnut Avenue
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Walnut Avenue
29
Turn left onto Jamboree Road
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
Jamboree Road
30
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
I 5 South
31
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
32
Keep slight left to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
0.8 mi
·
56 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
33
Merge slight right onto San Diego Freeway
76 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
San Diego Freeway
34
Take the exit slight right toward Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
35
Keep slight right to continue on Front Street, Civic Center
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Front Street, Civic Center
36
Continue on Front Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Front Street
37
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 143.7 miles from Bodfish, CA, or about 2h 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 63 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.7 miles or 2h 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 4h 20m
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 Bodfish, 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 Bodfish, CA
This is one driving day of about 287.4 miles and 5h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Bodfish, 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 143.7 mi from Bodfish, CA · 2h 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
144 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 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 143.7 miles from Bodfish, 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
$66.06 one way
$132.11 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
101 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $68.07 | $136.14 |
| premium | $6.18 | $69.89 | $139.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $63.45 | $126.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$66
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$91–$116
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 86.2 | 1 | $30.18 | $13.80 |
| Efficient EV | 71.9 | 0 | $25.15 | $11.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 115 | 1 | $40.24 | $18.39 |
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Morning in San Diego on Thursday
Local time
9:52 AM
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 17m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bodfish, CA to San Diego, CA covers 287.4 miles and takes about 5h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Caliente Bodfish Road, Lake Isabella Boulevard, Elizabeth Norris Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 143.7 miles from Bodfish, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $66.06 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 17m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bodfish, CA to San Diego, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Bodfish, CA to San Diego, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From San Diego, CA
More trips to San Diego, CA
Explore more options from Bodfish, CA or browse trips ending in San Diego, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.
Explore maps for Bodfish, CA or San Diego, CA on MapSof.net.