Origin
Fairfield, CA
Morning in Fairfield on Monday
Local time
9:40 AM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairfield, CA to San Diego, CA
Drive Time
9h 43m
Distance
514.3 mi
828 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$119
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 34m
★
6 AM
9h 43m
8 AM
10h 1m
10 AM
9h 49m
12 PM
9h 48m
3 PM
9h 50m
5 PM
10h 0m
8 PM
9h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairfield, CA
Stephen Leonardi
San Diego, CA
Lindsey Willard
Trip Overview
Traveling from Fairfield to San Diego covers 515.3 miles along the Pacific Coast, a journey that typically takes about 8 hours and 6 minutes of driving time. Given the distance, you should plan for this to be a two-day trip rather than attempting it in one exhausting stretch. You will navigate through West Texas Street, I-80 West, and Dwight D. to make your way south. Budgeting approximately $70 for fuel is a wise move to keep your trip on track. Since both origin and destination are situated within the Pacific Coast region, the transition remains consistent, though the scale of the drive demands careful preparation. Ultimately, this journey is best suited for travelers who prefer a steady pace rather than rushing through the state.
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
257.2 miles from Fairfield, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 51m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a long-distance drive that transitions from local roads to major arterials as you work your way toward Southern California. While you begin on West Texas Street, the route quickly shifts into a more standard interstate experience. You will find that the road character is functional and straightforward, prioritizing efficiency to cover the 515.3-mile distance. With 0 miles of the route categorized as highway-share, you will need to pay close attention to your navigation as you transition between the various main roads. The longest stretch you will encounter is on West Texas Street, so stay alert as the environment changes during your 8-hour and 6-minute trek.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 43 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Texas Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,433 ft
13 ft
Total Climb
4,077 ft
Total Descent
4,051 ft
Highest Point
3,433 ft
~321.5 mi in
Elevation Range
3,420 ft
Notable High Points
3,433 ft at ~321.5 miles
+713 ft prominence
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 9h 43m, 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 9h 43m, 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 Fairfield, CA to San Diego, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Texas Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 80 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dwight D | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 680 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Luther E Gibson Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Benicia-Martinez Bridge | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Donald D Doyle Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
West Texas Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfield, CA and San Diego, CA.
1
Start on Texas Street
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Texas Street
2
Continue on West Texas Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Texas Street
3
Take the ramp left toward I 80 West
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
I 80 West
4
Merge slight left onto Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
5
Take the exit slight right toward I 680: Benicia, San Jose
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 680: Benicia, San Jose
6
Continue on Luther E Gibson Freeway
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Luther E Gibson Freeway
7
Continue on Benicia-Martinez Bridge
8.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Benicia-Martinez Bridge
8
Keep slight right to continue on Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
9
Continue on Donald D Doyle Highway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Donald D Doyle Highway
10
Keep slight right to continue on Donald D Doyle Highway
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Donald D Doyle Highway
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
12
Keep slight left to continue on I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 580 East: Livermore, Stockton
13
Keep slight left to continue on I 580: Stockton
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 580: Stockton
14
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
15
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
16
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
11 mi
·
12 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
17
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
18
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
224 mi
·
4 hr
·
Westside Freeway
19
Keep slight right
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
20
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
21
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 405 South
22
Keep slight left
25 mi
·
29 min
23
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Golden State Freeway
24
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
25
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
26
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
·
Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
27
Keep slight left
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
28
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
I 5 South
29
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
0.8 mi
·
54 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
30
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
31
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
32
Take the exit slight right toward Newport Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Newport Avenue
33
Turn right onto Newport Avenue
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Newport Avenue
34
Turn left onto Walnut Avenue
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Walnut Avenue
35
Turn left onto Jamboree Road
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
Jamboree Road
36
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
I 5 South
37
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
38
Keep slight left to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
0.8 mi
·
56 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
39
Merge slight right onto San Diego Freeway
76 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
San Diego Freeway
40
Take the exit slight right toward Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
41
Keep slight right to continue on Front Street, Civic Center
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Front Street, Civic Center
42
Continue on Front Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Front Street
43
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
To manage the 515.3-mile distance effectively, I recommend scheduling at least two stops to break up the 8-hour and 6-minute drive. Splitting the journey over two days is the most practical way to ensure you arrive in San Diego feeling refreshed rather than fatigued. Since fuel costs will run you around $70, keep an eye on your gauge during the longer segments to avoid unnecessary detours. Given the nature of the route, departing early in the morning can help you avoid peak traffic congestion on the busier stretches. Use your two planned stops to stretch and recharge, as this will make the transition between the local roads and the interstate much more manageable.
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 257.2 miles from Fairfield, CA, or about 4h 51m 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 113 miles or 2h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 257.2 miles or 4h 51m 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 257.2 miles or 4h 51m
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 35m
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 Fairfield, 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 Fairfield, CA
Aim for roughly 257 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into San Diego, CA
Aim for roughly 257 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 113 miles from Fairfield, 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 257.2 mi from Fairfield, CA · 4h 51m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
170 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
339 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
257 mi · about 4.9h in
A practical overnight split lands near Santa Clarita, CA after about 257 miles or 4.9 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 113 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 257.2 miles from Fairfield, 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 257 miles or 4.9 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
$119.10 one way
$238.20 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
180 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $122.82 | $245.65 |
| premium | $6.24 | $126.41 | $252.82 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $114.26 | $228.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$119
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$249–$359
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 179.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $54 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 154.3 | 1 | $54.00 | $24.69 |
| Efficient EV | 128.6 | 1 | $45.00 | $20.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 205.7 | 2 | $72.00 | $32.92 |
Gas CO2
180 kg
EV CO2
60 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
Morning in San Diego on Monday
Local time
9:40 AM
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.
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
24 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
9h 43m 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 Fairfield, CA to San Diego, CA covers 514.3 miles and takes about 9h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Texas Street, I 80 West, Dwight D. 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 257 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 257.2 miles from Fairfield, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $119.10 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 43m, 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 Fairfield, CA to San Diego, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Fairfield, CA to San Diego, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes. The route ranges from 13 ft to 3,433 ft elevation with about 4,077 ft of total climbing. There is 1 notable high point along the way.
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