Origin
Compton, CA
Afternoon in Compton on Sunday
Local time
3:03 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Compton, CA to San Diego, CA
Drive Time
2h 15m
Distance
114 mi
184 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 7m
★
6 AM
2h 16m
8 AM
2h 35m
10 AM
2h 23m
12 PM
2h 21m
3 PM
2h 24m
5 PM
2h 34m
8 PM
2h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Compton, CA
Stephen Leonardi
San Diego, CA
Lindsey Willard
Trip Overview
Traveling from Compton to San Diego covers 114.5 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 49 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it connects two major hubs within the Pacific Coast region. You should budget approximately $16 for fuel to complete the journey. Because the transit time is relatively short, you won't need to worry about overnight logistics or mid-trip hotel stays. It is a straightforward transit that gets you from the heart of the Los Angeles area down to San Diego efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
57 miles from Compton, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route relies on South Alameda Street and East 223rd Street to get you moving. While you will eventually merge onto I-405 South, the local road portion defines the initial experience. There is no significant highway-only stretch to speak of, as the drive consists of 0% highway share according to the routing data. You will find that there is no long, uninterrupted stretch on South Alameda Street, requiring your full attention as you navigate through the urban landscape.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
San Diego Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 79.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Diego Freeway and San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.3 miles in near East 223rd Street.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 114 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.3 miles (East 223rd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 27.5 miles (CA 73 / Corona Del Mar Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
5.3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
East 223rd Street
At end of road, turn right onto East 223rd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
5.4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 405 South: Long Beach
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 405 South: Long Beach
8
27.5 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
CA 73 / Corona Del Mar Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 73 / Corona Del Mar Freeway toward CA 73 South: San Diego
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10
Toward CA 73 South: San Diego
8
41.8 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward La Paz Road, Moulton Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 3
Toward La Paz Road, Moulton Parkway
8
113.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 13m in
Take the exit toward Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 17
Toward Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Freeway | 79.4 mi | 1h 32m |
| San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor | 12.8 mi | 14m |
| I 405 | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| South Alameda Street | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| Corona Del Mar Freeway | 4 mi | 4m |
| Front Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East 223rd Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Compton Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
San Diego Freeway
— 79.4 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Compton, CA and San Diego, CA.
1
Start on East Compton Boulevard
100 ft
·
9 sec
·
East Compton Boulevard
2
Turn left onto South Alameda Street
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
South Alameda Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
Use the left lane.
4
At end of road, turn right onto East 223rd Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
East 223rd Street
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 405 South: Long Beach
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 405
9.2 mi
·
10 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 405
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 405
10 mi
·
11 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 73
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Corona Del Mar Freeway
Exit 10
Toward CA 73 South: San Diego
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on CA 73
10 mi
·
11 min
·
San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
437 ft
·
5 sec
Exit 3
Toward La Paz Road, Moulton Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
Toward CA 73 South: Moulton Parkway
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
Toward CA 73 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto CA 73 Toll
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
16
Merge onto I 5
68 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 17
Toward Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward Front Street, Civic Center
19
Continue on Front Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Front Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
20
Arrive at destination
Front Street
Trip Plan
Since this 114.5-mile trip lacks designated stops, you have the flexibility to manage your own pace throughout the drive. Leaving early is a smart way to avoid the congestion often found on these local arterial roads, so aim to head out before peak traffic hours. Keep your fuel budget of $16 in mind for a quick fill-up before you depart Compton to ensure a stress-free arrival in San Diego. Because the route is turn-heavy, rely on your navigation system early and often to stay on track during the transition from South Alameda Street to your final connection.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 57 miles from Compton, CA, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.4 miles.
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 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57 miles or 1h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 50m
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 Compton, 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 Compton, CA
This is one driving day of about 114 miles and 2h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Compton, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on San Diego Freeway for about 79.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 57 mi from Compton, CA · 1h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
57 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 57 miles from Compton, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before San Diego Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79.4 miles.
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
$26.40 one way
$52.80 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $27.23 | $54.45 |
| premium | $6.24 | $28.02 | $56.04 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $25.33 | $50.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.2 | 0 | $11.97 | $5.47 |
| Efficient EV | 28.5 | 0 | $9.98 | $4.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.6 | 0 | $15.96 | $7.30 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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
Afternoon in San Diego on Sunday
Local time
3:03 PM
PDT
Current temp
72°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
16 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
2h 15m 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 Compton, CA to San Diego, CA covers 114 miles and takes about 2h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are San Diego Freeway, San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor, I 405. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57 miles from Compton, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.40 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 114 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.3 miles (East 223rd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 27.5 miles (CA 73 / Corona Del Mar Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Compton, CA to San Diego, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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