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Trip from Roseland, CA to San Diego, CA

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

9h 14m

Distance

553.7 mi

891 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$127

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
9h 6m ★
6 AM
9h 14m
8 AM
9h 31m
10 AM
9h 20m
12 PM
9h 18m
3 PM
9h 21m
5 PM
9h 30m
8 PM
9h 9m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

seat of San Diego County, California, United States; second-largest city in California

San Diego, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Roseland, CA to San Diego, CA covers 553.7 miles and takes about 9h 14m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on Hearn Avenue, Corby Avenue, US 101 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $127.26 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

276.9 miles from Roseland, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 37m into the drive .

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Drive Character

At 553.7 miles and 9h 14m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Hearn Avenue and Corby Avenue.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Hearn Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

At 9h 14m, 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 14m, 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 Roseland, CA to San Diego, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Hearn Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
Corby Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
US 101 South Unavailable Refreshing
Redwood Highway Unavailable Refreshing
John T Unavailable Refreshing
Eastshore Freeway Unavailable Refreshing
Highway 80 Unavailable Refreshing
MacArthur Freeway Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Hearn Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Roseland, CA and San Diego, CA.

1

Start on West Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Avenue
2

At the end of the road, turn left onto Hearn Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Hearn Avenue
3

Turn right onto Corby Avenue

367 ft · 15 sec · Corby Avenue
4

Turn left onto US 101 South: San Francisco

0.2 mi · 27 sec · US 101 South: San Francisco
5

Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway

35 mi · 41 min · Redwood Highway
6

Keep slight right to continue on John T. Knox Freeway

14 mi · 17 min · John T. Knox Freeway
7

Merge slight left onto Eastshore Freeway

3.8 mi · 4 min · Eastshore Freeway
8

Keep slight left to continue on Interstate Highway 80

0.3 mi · 21 sec · Interstate Highway 80
9

Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway

16 mi · 18 min · MacArthur Freeway
10

Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

12 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11

Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

18 mi · 20 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
12

Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway

11 mi · 12 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
13

Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway

5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway
14

Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway

224 mi · 4 hr · Westside Freeway
15

Keep slight right

58 mi · 1 hr 6 min
16

Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

4.1 mi · 4 min · Golden State Freeway
17

Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South

0.3 mi · 18 sec · I 405 South
18

Keep slight left

25 mi · 29 min
19

Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway

1.3 mi · 1 min · Golden State Freeway
20

Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

26 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway
21

Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
22

Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana

0.8 mi · 57 sec · Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
23

Keep slight left

0.1 mi · 10 sec
24

Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South

0.2 mi · 13 sec · I 5 South
25

Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

0.8 mi · 54 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
26

Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

0.8 mi · 52 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
27

Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

1.2 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway
28

Take the exit slight right toward Newport Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Newport Avenue
29

Turn right onto Newport Avenue

0.4 mi · 44 sec · Newport Avenue
30

Turn left onto Walnut Avenue

2.2 mi · 4 min · Walnut Avenue
31

Turn left onto Jamboree Road

0.5 mi · 38 sec · Jamboree Road
32

Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South

0.3 mi · 21 sec · I 5 South
33

Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway

5.5 mi · 6 min · Santa Ana Freeway
34

Keep slight left to continue on Santa Ana Freeway

0.8 mi · 56 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
35

Merge slight right onto San Diego Freeway

76 mi · 1 hr 29 min · San Diego Freeway
36

Take the exit slight right toward Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
37

Keep slight right to continue on Front Street, Civic Center

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Front Street, Civic Center
38

Continue on Front Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Front Street
39

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 276.9 miles from Roseland, CA, or about 4h 37m 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 122 miles or 2h 2m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 276.9 miles or 4h 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 276.9 miles or 4h 37m

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 14m

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 Roseland, 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 Roseland, CA

Aim for roughly 277 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into San Diego, CA

Aim for roughly 277 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 122 miles from Roseland, 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 276.9 mi from Roseland, CA · 4h 37m into the drive

city in Alameda County, California, United States

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Hayward, CA

183 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.

city in Los Angeles County, California, USA

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Santa Clarita, CA

365 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 Santa Clarita, CA

Popular next leg

Santa Clarita, CA to San Diego, CA

152.8 mi · 3h 6m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Fresno, CA

277 mi · about 4.6h in

A practical overnight split lands near Fresno, CA after about 277 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Richmond, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 122 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fresno, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 276.9 miles from Roseland, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 277 miles or 4.6 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

$127.26 one way

$254.53 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 194 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $131.14 $262.29
premium $6.18 $134.65 $269.31
diesel $5.61 $122.25 $244.50

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$127

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$257–$367

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 193.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $58 in charging · 2 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 166.1 2 $58.14 $26.58
Efficient EV 138.4 1 $48.45 $22.15
EV Truck/SUV 221.5 2 $77.52 $35.44

Gas CO2

194 kg

EV CO2

65 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.

Forecast data refreshed 24 minutes from now

Origin

Roseland, CA

Evening in Roseland on Tuesday

Local time

5:34 PM

PDT

Current temp

--

Unavailable

Destination

San Diego, CA

Evening in San Diego on Tuesday

Local time

5:34 PM

PDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

68°F

Hayward, CA

183 mi in

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.

Road read

9h 14m 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 Roseland, CA to San Diego, CA covers 553.7 miles and takes about 9h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Hearn Avenue, Corby Avenue, US 101 South. 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 277 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 276.9 miles from Roseland, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $127.26 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 14m, 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 Roseland, CA to San Diego, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Roseland, CA to San Diego, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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