Origin
Cambria, CA
Afternoon in Cambria on Friday
Local time
4:40 PM
PDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cambria, CA to San Diego, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 17m
Distance
361.6 mi
582 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$83
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 5m
★
6 AM
6h 18m
8 AM
6h 43m
10 AM
6h 27m
12 PM
6h 24m
3 PM
6h 28m
5 PM
6h 42m
8 PM
6h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cambria, CA
Wikimedia Commons
San Diego, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Cambria, CA to San Diego, CA covers 361.6 miles and takes about 6h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Village Lane, Burton Drive, Eton Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $83.11 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
180.8 miles from Cambria, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 8m into the drive .
About the Cities
Arriving in San Diego, CA
Full guide →From balmy beaches with a laid-back attitude to a gleaming modern image, San Diego offers much for the tourist to enjoy. Situated on the Southern California seacoast, San Diego is the second largest city in the state, with 1.4 million residents (2020), and has long attracted travelers for its ideal climate, miles of beaches, and location on the Mexican border right across from Tijuana. But there's much more here than surfer culture and a quick hop across the border. A rich maritime and military heritage lives on in San Diego, which is home to the Pacific Fleet of the United States Navy. The city has also become known for its part in the wildlife conservation movement, owing to the presence of the world-renowned San Diego Zoo and Safari Park and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Natural scenery abounds from rocky tidepools and seaside cliffs to desert hills and canyons inland.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 17m. Total distance: 361.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 17m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 17m drive with frequent turns across 361.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 38 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Village Lane 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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 17m, 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 Cambria, CA to San Diego, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Village Lane | — | — |
| Burton Drive | — | — |
| Eton Road | — | — |
| Main Street | — | — |
| Cabrillo Highway | — | — |
| North Santa Rosa Street | — | — |
| Olive Street | — | — |
| El Camino Real | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Village Lane
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cambria, CA and San Diego, CA.
1
Start on Village Lane
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Village Lane
2
Continue on Village Lane
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
Village Lane
3
Turn left onto Burton Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Burton Drive
4
Continue on Eton Road
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Eton Road
5
At the end of the road, turn right onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Main Street
6
Turn left onto Cabrillo Highway
30 mi
·
37 min
·
Cabrillo Highway
7
Continue on North Santa Rosa Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Santa Rosa Street
8
Turn right onto Olive Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Olive Street
9
Merge slight left onto Cabrillo Highway
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Cabrillo Highway
10
Continue on El Camino Real
45 mi
·
51 min
·
El Camino Real
11
Take the exit slight right toward CA 154: Los Olivos, Lake Cachuma
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
CA 154: Los Olivos, Lake Cachuma
12
Turn left onto Chumash Highway
6.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Chumash Highway
13
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Chumash Highway
128 ft
·
2 sec
·
Chumash Highway
14
Exit the roundabout onto Chumash Highway
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Chumash Highway
15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Chumash Highway
115 ft
·
2 sec
·
Chumash Highway
16
Exit the roundabout onto Chumash Highway
24 mi
·
32 min
·
Chumash Highway
17
Take the ramp slight left toward US 101 South
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
US 101 South
18
Merge slight left onto El Camino Real
17 mi
·
19 min
·
El Camino Real
19
Continue on Ventura Freeway
65 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
Ventura Freeway
20
Take the exit slight right toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Sacramento, Santa Monica
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
I 405 North, I 405 South: Sacramento, Santa Monica
21
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South: San Diego Freeway, Santa Monica
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 405 South: San Diego Freeway, Santa Monica
22
Keep slight left to continue on I 405 South: San Diego Freeway
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
I 405 South: San Diego Freeway
23
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
13 mi
·
15 min
·
San Diego Freeway
24
Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway
27 mi
·
30 min
·
San Diego Freeway
25
Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
San Diego Freeway
26
Keep slight left to continue on San Diego Freeway
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
San Diego Freeway
27
Keep slight left
10 mi
·
11 min
28
Keep slight right to continue on Corona Del Mar Freeway
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Corona Del Mar Freeway
29
Continue on San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
10 mi
·
11 min
·
San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
30
Take the exit slight right toward La Paz Road, Moulton Parkway
436 ft
·
6 sec
·
La Paz Road, Moulton Parkway
31
Keep slight left to continue on CA 73 South: Moulton Parkway
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
CA 73 South: Moulton Parkway
32
Keep slight left to continue on CA 73 South
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
CA 73 South
33
Merge slight left onto San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
34
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
68 mi
·
1 hr 19 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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 180.8 miles from Cambria, CA, or about 3h 8m 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 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 180.8 miles or 3h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 15m
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 Cambria, 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 Cambria, CA
This is one driving day of about 361.6 miles and 6h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cambria, 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 180.8 mi from Cambria, CA · 3h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
181 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 180.8 miles from Cambria, 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
$83.11 one way
$166.22 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
127 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $85.65 | $171.29 |
| premium | $6.18 | $87.94 | $175.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $79.84 | $159.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$83
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$108–$133
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 126.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 108.5 | 1 | $37.97 | $17.36 |
| Efficient EV | 90.4 | 1 | $31.64 | $14.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 144.6 | 1 | $50.62 | $23.14 |
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
42 kg (67% 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
Afternoon in San Diego on Friday
Local time
4:40 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
4 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
6h 17m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cambria, CA to San Diego, CA covers 361.6 miles and takes about 6h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Village Lane, Burton Drive, Eton Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 180.8 miles from Cambria, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $83.11 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 1 meaningful break 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 6h 17m, 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 Cambria, CA to San Diego, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cambria, CA to San Diego, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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 Cambria, CA or browse trips ending in San Diego, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.