Origin
San Diego, CA
Evening in San Diego on Wednesday
Local time
8:39 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Diego, CA to Apple Valley, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 55m
Distance
150.2 mi
242 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 44m
★
6 AM
2h 56m
8 AM
3h 18m
10 AM
3h 3m
12 PM
3h 1m
3 PM
3h 5m
5 PM
3h 17m
8 PM
2h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Diego, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Apple Valley, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from San Diego, CA to Apple Valley, CA covers 150.2 miles and takes about 2h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Broadway, 11th Avenue, Cabrillo Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.52 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
75.1 miles from San Diego, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 55m drive with frequent turns across 150.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Broadway is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from San Diego, CA to Apple Valley, CA is easy. At 2h 55m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Diego, CA to Apple Valley, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Broadway | — | — |
| 11th Avenue | — | — |
| Cabrillo Parkway | — | — |
| Cabrillo Freeway | — | — |
| Semper Fi Highway | — | — |
| Escondido Freeway | — | — |
| Tony Gwynn Memorial Freeway | — | — |
| Avocado Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Broadway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego, CA and Apple Valley, CA.
1
Start on Front Street
26 ft
·
6 sec
·
Front Street
2
Turn left onto West Broadway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Broadway
3
Turn left onto 11th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
11th Avenue
4
Continue on Cabrillo Parkway
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Cabrillo Parkway
5
Continue on Cabrillo Freeway
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Cabrillo Freeway
6
Keep slight left
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
7
Continue on Semper Fi Highway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Semper Fi Highway
8
Continue on Escondido Freeway
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Escondido Freeway
9
Continue on Tony Gwynn Memorial Freeway
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Tony Gwynn Memorial Freeway
10
Continue on Escondido Freeway
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Escondido Freeway
11
Keep slight left to continue on Escondido Freeway
6.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Escondido Freeway
12
Continue on Avocado Highway
22 mi
·
23 min
·
Avocado Highway
13
Continue on Escondido Freeway
6.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Escondido Freeway
14
Take the exit slight right toward I 215
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 215
15
Continue on Escondido Freeway
34 mi
·
40 min
·
Escondido Freeway
16
Keep slight right to continue on I 215 North: San Bernardino, Barstow
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
I 215 North: San Bernardino, Barstow
17
Merge slight left onto Riverside Freeway
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Riverside Freeway
18
Continue on San Bernardino Freeway
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
19
Continue on Barstow Freeway
8.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Barstow Freeway
20
Keep slight left
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
21
Continue on Barstow and Mojave Freeway
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Barstow and Mojave Freeway
22
Continue on CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway
23
Continue on Barstow and Mojave Freeway
10 mi
·
10 min
·
Barstow and Mojave Freeway
24
Take the exit slight right toward La Mesa Road, Nisqualli Road
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
La Mesa Road, Nisqualli Road
25
Turn right onto Nisqualli Road
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Nisqualli Road
26
Turn left onto Mariposa Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Mariposa Road
27
Turn right onto Yates Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Yates Road
28
At the end of the road, turn right onto Green Tree Boulevard
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Green Tree Boulevard
29
Continue on Yates Road
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Yates Road
30
Continue on Yucca Loma Road
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Yucca Loma Road
31
At the end of the road, turn right onto Navajo Road
276 ft
·
11 sec
·
Navajo Road
32
Continue on Navajo Road
420 ft
·
19 sec
·
Navajo Road
33
Turn right onto Happy Trails Highway
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Happy Trails Highway
34
Turn slight left
358 ft
·
14 sec
35
Turn right onto Outer Hwy 18 North
30 ft
·
1 sec
·
Outer Hwy 18 North
36
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.1 miles from San Diego, CA, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
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 33 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.1 miles or 1h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Apple Valley, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving San Diego, 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 San Diego, CA
This is one driving day of about 150.2 miles and 2h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from San Diego, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 75.1 mi from San Diego, CA · 1h 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
75 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 75.1 miles from San Diego, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Apple Valley, CA
The final approach into Apple Valley, 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 Apple Valley, 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
$34.52 one way
$69.04 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
53 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $35.57 | $71.15 |
| premium | $6.18 | $36.53 | $73.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.16 | $66.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.1 | 0 | $15.77 | $7.21 |
| Efficient EV | 37.6 | 0 | $13.14 | $6.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 60.1 | 0 | $21.03 | $9.61 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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
Apple Valley, CA
Evening in Apple Valley on Wednesday
Local time
8:39 PM
PDT
Current temp
67°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
11 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 55m 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 San Diego, CA to Apple Valley, CA covers 150.2 miles and takes about 2h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Broadway, 11th Avenue, Cabrillo Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 75.1 miles from San Diego, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $34.52 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from San Diego, CA to Apple Valley, CA is easy. At 2h 55m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Diego, CA to Apple Valley, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from San Diego, CA to Apple Valley, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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