Origin
Brisbane, CA
Evening in Brisbane on Wednesday
Local time
8:39 PM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brisbane, CA to San Diego, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
8h 23m
Distance
510.9 mi
822 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$117
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 16m
★
6 AM
8h 23m
8 AM
8h 38m
10 AM
8h 28m
12 PM
8h 27m
3 PM
8h 29m
5 PM
8h 38m
8 PM
8h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brisbane, CA
Shiyong Lim
San Diego, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Brisbane, CA to San Diego, CA covers 510.9 miles and takes about 8h 23m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Alvarado Street, San Bruno Avenue, Bayshore Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $117.43 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
255.4 miles from Brisbane, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 11m into the drive .
Drive Character
At 510.9 miles and 8h 23m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Alvarado Street and San Bruno Avenue.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 38 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Alvarado Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 8h 23m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 23m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Brisbane, CA to San Diego, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Alvarado Street | — | — |
| San Bruno Avenue | — | — |
| Bayshore Boulevard | — | — |
| US 101 South | — | — |
| Bayshore Freeway | — | — |
| CA 152 East | — | — |
| East 10th Street | — | — |
| Pacheco Pass Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Alvarado Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brisbane, CA and San Diego, CA.
1
Start on the route
115 ft
·
12 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto Alvarado Street
338 ft
·
19 sec
·
Alvarado Street
3
Turn right onto San Bruno Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bruno Avenue
4
At the end of the road, turn right onto Bayshore Boulevard
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Bayshore Boulevard
5
Turn left onto US 101 South: San Jose
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
US 101 South: San Jose
6
Merge slight left onto Bayshore Freeway
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Bayshore Freeway
7
Keep slight left to continue on Bayshore Freeway
25 mi
·
28 min
·
Bayshore Freeway
8
Keep slight left to continue on Bayshore Freeway
42 mi
·
48 min
·
Bayshore Freeway
9
Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
10
Turn left onto East 10th Street
354 ft
·
13 sec
·
East 10th Street
11
Continue on Pacheco Pass Highway
41 mi
·
50 min
·
Pacheco Pass Highway
12
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5: Los Angeles
13
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
181 mi
·
3 hr 14 min
·
Westside Freeway
14
Keep slight right
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
15
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
16
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 405 South
17
Keep slight left
25 mi
·
29 min
18
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Golden State Freeway
19
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
20
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
21
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
·
Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
22
Keep slight left
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
23
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
I 5 South
24
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
0.8 mi
·
54 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
25
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
26
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
27
Take the exit slight right toward Newport Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Newport Avenue
28
Turn right onto Newport Avenue
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Newport Avenue
29
Turn left onto Walnut Avenue
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Walnut Avenue
30
Turn left onto Jamboree Road
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
Jamboree Road
31
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
I 5 South
32
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
33
Keep slight left to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
0.8 mi
·
56 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
34
Merge slight right onto San Diego Freeway
76 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
San Diego Freeway
35
Take the exit slight right toward Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
36
Keep slight right to continue on Front Street, Civic Center
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Front Street, Civic Center
37
Continue on Front Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Front Street
38
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 255.4 miles from Brisbane, CA, or about 4h 11m into the drive.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 112 miles or 1h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 255.4 miles or 4h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 255.4 miles or 4h 11m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 24m
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 Brisbane, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Brisbane, CA
Aim for roughly 255 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into San Diego, CA
Aim for roughly 255 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 112 miles from Brisbane, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 255.4 mi from Brisbane, CA · 4h 11m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
169 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
337 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Los Angeles, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
255 mi · about 4.2h in
A practical overnight split lands near Bakersfield, CA after about 255 miles or 4.2 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 112 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 255.4 miles from Brisbane, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 255 miles or 4.2 hours on the road.
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.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach San Diego, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$117.43 one way
$234.85 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
179 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $121.01 | $242.01 |
| premium | $6.18 | $124.25 | $248.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $112.80 | $225.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$117
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$247–$357
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 178.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $54 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 153.3 | 1 | $53.64 | $24.52 |
| Efficient EV | 127.7 | 1 | $44.70 | $20.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 204.4 | 2 | $71.53 | $32.70 |
Gas CO2
179 kg
EV CO2
60 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
Evening in San Diego on Wednesday
Local time
8:39 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
9 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
8h 23m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Brisbane, CA to San Diego, CA covers 510.9 miles and takes about 8h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Alvarado Street, San Bruno Avenue, Bayshore Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 255 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 255.4 miles from Brisbane, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $117.43 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 8h 23m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Brisbane, CA to San Diego, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Brisbane, CA to San Diego, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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