Origin
Kamiah, ID
Morning in Kamiah on Sunday
Local time
11:41 AM
PDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kamiah, ID to San Diego, CA
Drive Time
21h 48m
Distance
1137 mi
1,830 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
3-day trip
Fuel Cost
$180
one way
Photo: Lindsey Willard
Trip Overview
Embarking on the 1,137-mile journey from Kamiah, Idaho, to San Diego, California, is a significant undertaking that transitions you from the rugged Mountain West to the sunny Pacific Coast. You should plan for a total drive time of approximately 21 hours and 48 minutes, making a single-day trip impossible for most drivers. We strongly recommend splitting this route over three days to ensure you remain alert and comfortable behind the wheel. Budgeting around $174 for fuel is a smart way to manage your expenses for this long-distance trek. By breaking the drive into manageable segments, you can better navigate the transition between these two distinct geographic regions.
Trip Pace
Best split across 3 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
6 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
568.5 miles from Kamiah, ID
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10h 37m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a varied experience as you transition away from your starting point in Idaho toward the California coast. While the route utilizes local roads like 3rd Street, Virginia Street, and Superior Street, the lack of traditional highway infrastructure means you will be navigating a more hands-on driving environment. Because the highway share is 0%, your focus will remain on local road conditions rather than high-speed interstate cruising. This profile demands constant attention, as the lack of long, uninterrupted stretches requires you to manage navigating through various town centers and local intersections throughout the 1,137-mile trip.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 72 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 363.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 21h 48m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 782.4 miles in near US 395; US 6 Hist / North Main Street.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 36 significant decision points across 1137 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 782.4 miles (US 395; US 6 Hist / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 905.5 miles (US 395 / Blue Star Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1002.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 36 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
782.4 mi into trip
|
~14h 49m in
|
US 395; US 6 Hist / North Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 395; US 6 Hist / North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
905.5 mi into trip
|
~17h 18m in
|
US 395 / Blue Star Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 395 / Blue Star Memorial Highway toward US 395 South: San Bernardino
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 395 South: San Bernardino
7
1002.8 mi into trip
|
~19h 15m in
Take the exit toward I 15 South: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 15 South: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
7
1039.1 mi into trip
|
~19h 56m in
|
I 215
Take the exit onto I 215 toward I 215 South, CA 60 East: San Diego, Indio
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.
Toward I 215 South, CA 60 East: San Diego, Indi...
8
1044.2 mi into trip
|
~20h 2m in
|
I 215 Truck; CA 60 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 215 Truck; CA 60 Truck toward I 215, CA 60 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 215, CA 60 Truck
Towns Along This Route
Between Kamiah, ID and San Diego, CA, road signs point toward Parma, Reno, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Indio.
Parma
211.6 mi in
|
~4h 15m
Reno
464.5 mi in
|
~8h 57m
Las Vegas
559.8 mi in
|
~10h 28m
|
via US 95
Los Angeles
1002.8 mi in
|
~19h 15m
Indio
1039.1 mi in
|
~19h 56m
|
via I 215
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 95 | 363.9 mi | 6h 45m |
| Grand Army of the Republic Highway | 156.9 mi | 3h 2m |
| Veterans Memorial Highway | 109.2 mi | 2h 6m |
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | 103.3 mi | 2h 3m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 94.9 mi | 1h 30m |
| Virginia Street | 46.6 mi | 1h |
| Superior Street | 44.4 mi | 54m |
| I 215 Truck | 36.7 mi | 41m |
Longest stretch:
US 95
— 363.9 mi, about 6h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kamiah, ID and San Diego, CA.
1
Start on Hill Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Hill Street
2
Turn right onto US 12
7.6 mi
·
10 min
·
3rd Street
3
Turn right onto ID 13
26 mi
·
29 min
·
ID 13
4
Turn left onto US 95
79 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
US 95
5
Take the exit onto US 95
47 mi
·
1 hr
·
Virginia Street
6
Turn left onto US 95
44 mi
·
54 min
·
Superior Street
7
Turn left onto US 95
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
9
Continue on US 30
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
Northwest 16th Street
10
Continue on US 30
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Idaho Avenue
Use the none lane.
11
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
12
Merge onto I 84
3.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Oregon Trail Highway
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward US 95: Payette, Parma
14
Turn right onto US 95
15 mi
·
17 min
·
US 95
15
Turn left onto US 95
19 mi
·
21 min
·
US 95
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto US 95
217 mi
·
3 hr 58 min
·
US 95
Use the none lane.
17
Turn left onto NV 795
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Reinhart Lane
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on NV 795
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
Rhinehart Lane
19
Turn right onto NV 289
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East 2nd Street
20
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
Toward I 80: Lovelock, Reno
21
Merge onto I 80
95 mi
·
1 hr 30 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
22
Take the exit onto US 95
34 mi
·
38 min
·
US 95
Exit 83
Toward US 95: Fallon, Las Vegas
23
Turn right onto Wildes Road
148 ft
·
7 sec
·
Wildes Road
24
Turn left onto US 95
70 mi
·
1 hr 23 min
·
Veterans Memorial Highway
25
Turn left onto US 95 Truck
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Freedom Road
Use the left lane.
26
At end of road, turn left onto US 95
24 mi
·
25 min
·
Veterans Memorial Highway
27
Continue on US 95
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Plymire Street
28
Continue on US 95
7.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Veterans Memorial Highway
29
Continue on US 95
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Front Street
30
Continue on US 95
8.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Veterans Memorial Highway
31
Turn right onto NV 360
23 mi
·
26 min
·
Mina–Basalt Cutoff Road
32
Continue on US 6
17 mi
·
18 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
33
Keep slight right at fork onto Grand Army of the Republic Highway
35 mi
·
41 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
34
Continue on US 6
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
North Main Street
35
At end of road, turn left onto US 395; US 6 Hist
3.3 mi
·
6 min
·
North Main Street
Use the none lane.
36
Continue on US 395; CA 168; US 6 Hist
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
El Camino Sierra
Use the none lane.
37
Continue on US 395; CA 168; US 6 Hist
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
38
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
North Main Street
39
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
26 mi
·
31 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
40
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Edwards Street
41
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
42
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Main Street
Use the none lane.
43
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
56 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
44
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
45
Keep slight left at fork onto US 395
30 mi
·
34 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
Toward US 395 South: San Bernardino
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
46
Continue on US 395
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Red Mountain Road
47
Continue on US 395
67 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the none lane.
48
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 15 South: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
Use the straight lane.
49
Merge onto I 15; US 66 Hist
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
50
Continue on I 15; US 66 Hist; US 91 Hist; US 395 Hist
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
51
Continue on I 15; US 66 Hist
6.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Use the none lane.
52
Continue on I 215
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
Barstow Freeway
Exit 123
53
Keep slight left at fork onto I 215
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Barstow Freeway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
54
Continue on I 215
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the none lane.
55
Continue on I 215
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Riverside Freeway
Use the none lane.
56
Take the exit onto I 215
5.1 mi
·
5 min
·
I 215
Toward I 215 South, CA 60 East: San Diego, Indio
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
57
Keep slight right at fork onto I 215 Truck; CA 60 Truck
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 215 Truck; CA 60 Truck
Toward I 215, CA 60 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
58
Keep slight right at fork onto I 215 Truck
36 mi
·
41 min
·
I 215 Truck
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
59
Continue on I 15
22 mi
·
23 min
·
Avocado Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
60
Continue on I 15
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Escondido Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
61
Keep slight right at fork onto I 15
8.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Escondido Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
62
Continue on I 15
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Tony Gwynn Memorial Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
63
Continue on I 15
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Escondido Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
64
Continue on I 15
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Semper Fi Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
65
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 12
Toward CA 163 South
Use the slight right lane.
66
Continue on CA 163
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Cabrillo Freeway
Toward CA 163
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
67
Continue on CA 163
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Cabrillo Parkway
Use the none lane.
68
Continue on CA 163
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cabrillo Parkway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
69
Continue on CA 163
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
10th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
70
Turn right onto Broadway
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway
Use the none lane.
71
Turn left onto Front Street
26 ft
·
0 sec
·
Front Street
Use the left lane.
72
Arrive at destination
Front Street
Trip Plan
Pacing is the most critical element of your success on this 21-hour and 48-minute excursion. With six planned stops along the way, use these intervals to stretch and refuel systematically rather than pushing through fatigue. We suggest leaving early in the morning to maximize daylight hours, especially since local road navigation can be more challenging in the dark. Given the $174 fuel estimate, try to fill up in larger towns where competition might help you stick to your budget. As a specific tip, verify your turn-by-turn directions for the segments involving 3rd, Virginia, and Superior Streets before departing each morning to avoid confusion in unfamiliar municipalities.
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 3-day trip.
Plan roughly 6 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 568.5 miles from Kamiah, ID, or about 10h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 363.9 miles.
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 220 miles or 4h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 568.5 miles or 10h 37m 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 379 miles or 7h 21m
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 20h 39m
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 Kamiah, ID 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 3-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kamiah, ID
Aim for roughly 379 miles and 7.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 379 miles and 7.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Finish the approach into San Diego, CA
Aim for roughly 379 miles and 7.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Kamiah, ID.
This route usually feels better as a 3-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 6 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 95 for about 363.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 568.5 mi from Kamiah, ID · 10h 37m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
375 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
750 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 Mammoth Lakes, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
379 mi · about 7.3h in
A practical overnight split lands near Emmett, ID after about 379 miles or 7.3 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
758 mi · about 14.5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Mammoth Lakes, CA after about 758 miles or 14.5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 220 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 568.5 miles from Kamiah, ID, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 363.9 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 379 miles or 7.3 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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$180.17 one way
$360.35 round trip
$4.03/gal
25.4 MPG avg
398 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.23 | $189.40 | $378.79 |
| premium | $4.53 | $202.74 | $405.47 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $252.60 | $505.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$180
Hotel (2n)
$160–$280
Meals
$75–$150
Total
$415–$610
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 397.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $119 in charging · 4 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 341.1 | 4 | $119.38 | $54.58 |
| Efficient EV | 284.3 | 3 | $99.49 | $45.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 454.8 | 5 | $159.18 | $72.77 |
Gas CO2
398 kg
EV CO2
133 kg (67% less)
This is a long EV road trip requiring 4 charging stops. Plan your route around charger locations and allow extra time for charging.
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 Sunday
Local time
11:41 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
38 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
21h 48m 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 Kamiah, ID to San Diego, CA covers 1137 miles and takes about 21h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 95, Grand Army of the Republic Highway, Veterans Memorial Highway. 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 3-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 379 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 568.5 miles from Kamiah, ID. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $180.17 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 6 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 36 significant decision points across 1137 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 782.4 miles (US 395; US 6 Hist / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 905.5 miles (US 395 / Blue Star Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1002.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Kamiah, ID and San Diego, CA, road signs point toward Parma, Reno, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Indio.
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