Origin
El Dorado Hills, CA
Late night in El Dorado Hills on Saturday
Local time
4:05 AM
PDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from El Dorado Hills, CA to Chula Vista, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 2m
Distance
545.5 mi
878 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$125
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 54m
★
6 AM
9h 2m
8 AM
9h 19m
10 AM
9h 8m
12 PM
9h 6m
3 PM
9h 9m
5 PM
9h 18m
8 PM
8h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
El Dorado Hills, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Chula Vista, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from El Dorado Hills, CA to Chula Vista, CA covers 545.5 miles and takes about 9h 2m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Governor Drive, El Dorado Hills Boulevard, US 50 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $125.38 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
272.7 miles from El Dorado Hills, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 31m into the drive .
About the Cities
Arriving in Chula Vista, CA
Full guide →Chula Vista is a large city in San Diego County in Southern California. It was a farming and dairy city in the early 20th century. By the early 21st century the city had grown tremendously with the addition of several prominent suburbs and business districts. === Understand === Chula Vista Convention & Visitors Bureau website
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
9h 2m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-distance drive route profile.
Drive Character
At 545.5 miles and 9h 2m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Governor Drive and El Dorado Hills Boulevard.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 52 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Governor Drive is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 9h 2m, 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.
Driving Effort
4/10
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 9h 2m, 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 El Dorado Hills, CA to Chula Vista, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Governor Drive | — | — |
| El Dorado Hills Boulevard | — | — |
| US 50 West | — | — |
| Bradshaw Road | — | — |
| Grant Line Road | — | — |
| Kammerer Road | — | — |
| South Sacramento Freeway | — | — |
| CA 4 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Governor Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between El Dorado Hills, CA and Chula Vista, CA.
1
Start on Stanford Lane
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Stanford Lane
2
Turn left onto Governor Drive
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Governor Drive
3
Turn right onto El Dorado Hills Boulevard
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
El Dorado Hills Boulevard
4
Take the ramp right toward US 50 West: Sacramento
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 50 West: Sacramento
5
Merge slight left
16 mi
·
17 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward Bradshaw Road
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Bradshaw Road
7
Turn left onto Bradshaw Road
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
Bradshaw Road
8
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Bradshaw Road
82 ft
·
2 sec
·
Bradshaw Road
9
Exit the roundabout onto Bradshaw Road
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Bradshaw Road
10
Turn right onto Grant Line Road
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Grant Line Road
11
Continue on Kammerer Road
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Kammerer Road
12
Take the ramp slight right
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
13
Merge slight left onto South Sacramento Freeway
30 mi
·
34 min
·
South Sacramento Freeway
14
Take the exit slight right toward CA 4
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 4
15
Merge slight left onto Crosstown Freeway
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Crosstown Freeway
16
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Sacramento
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
I 5: Sacramento
17
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 South
18
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Westside Freeway
19
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
0.8 mi
·
49 sec
·
Westside Freeway
20
Keep slight left to continue on Westside Freeway
237 mi
·
4 hr 13 min
·
Westside Freeway
21
Keep slight right
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
22
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
23
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 405 South
24
Keep slight left
25 mi
·
29 min
25
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Golden State Freeway
26
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
27
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
28
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
·
Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
29
Keep slight left
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
30
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
I 5 South
31
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
0.8 mi
·
54 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
32
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
33
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
34
Take the exit slight right toward Newport Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Newport Avenue
35
Turn right onto Newport Avenue
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Newport Avenue
36
Turn left onto Walnut Avenue
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Walnut Avenue
37
Turn left onto Jamboree Road
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
Jamboree Road
38
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
I 5 South
39
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
40
Keep slight left to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
0.8 mi
·
56 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
41
Merge slight right onto San Diego Freeway
62 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
San Diego Freeway
42
Take the exit slight left
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
43
Continue on Jacob Dekema Freeway
19 mi
·
21 min
·
Jacob Dekema Freeway
44
Take the exit slight right toward CA 54 East, CA 54 West
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
CA 54 East, CA 54 West
45
Keep slight right to continue on CA 54 West
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
CA 54 West
46
Merge slight left onto South Bay Freeway
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
South Bay Freeway
47
Take the exit slight right toward Highland Avenue, 4th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Highland Avenue, 4th Avenue
48
Turn left onto Highland Avenue
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Highland Avenue
49
Continue on 4th Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
4th Avenue
50
Turn right onto F Street
322 ft
·
34 sec
·
F Street
51
Continue on F Street
272 ft
·
5 sec
·
F Street
52
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 272.7 miles from El Dorado Hills, CA, or about 4h 31m 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 120 miles or 1h 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 272.7 miles or 4h 31m 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 272.7 miles or 4h 31m
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 8h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chula Vista, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving El Dorado Hills, 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 El Dorado Hills, CA
Aim for roughly 273 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Chula Vista, CA
Aim for roughly 273 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 120 miles from El Dorado Hills, 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 272.7 mi from El Dorado Hills, CA · 4h 31m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
180 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
360 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
273 mi · about 4.5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Santa Clarita, CA after about 273 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 120 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 272.7 miles from El Dorado Hills, 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 273 miles or 4.5 hours on the road.
Arriving in Chula Vista, CA
The final approach into Chula Vista, 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 Chula Vista, CA.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Chula Vista, 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
$125.38 one way
$250.76 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
191 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $129.20 | $258.40 |
| premium | $6.18 | $132.66 | $265.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $120.44 | $240.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$125
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$255–$365
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 190.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $57 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 163.7 | 2 | $57.28 | $26.18 |
| Efficient EV | 136.4 | 1 | $47.73 | $21.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 218.2 | 2 | $76.37 | $34.91 |
Gas CO2
191 kg
EV CO2
64 kg (66% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Chula Vista, CA
Late night in Chula Vista on Saturday
Local time
4:05 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.
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
10 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
9h 2m 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 El Dorado Hills, CA to Chula Vista, CA covers 545.5 miles and takes about 9h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Governor Drive, El Dorado Hills Boulevard, US 50 West. 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 273 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 272.7 miles from El Dorado Hills, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $125.38 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 9h 2m, 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 El Dorado Hills, CA to Chula Vista, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from El Dorado Hills, CA to Chula Vista, 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.
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