Origin
San Diego, CA
Afternoon in San Diego on Sunday
Local time
3:03 PM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Diego, CA to Compton, CA
Drive Time
2h 14m
Distance
113.8 mi
183 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 5m
★
6 AM
2h 15m
8 AM
2h 34m
10 AM
2h 21m
12 PM
2h 19m
3 PM
2h 22m
5 PM
2h 33m
8 PM
2h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Diego, CA
Lindsey Willard
Compton, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
Traveling from San Diego to Compton covers 113.8 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 14 minutes. This drive stays entirely within the Pacific Coast region of California, making it a straightforward journey that is easily manageable as a single-day trip. You will navigate your way out of the city using West Broadway and 1st Avenue before transitioning onto I-5 North for the bulk of the transit. Budget approximately $15 for fuel to complete the trek. Since the entire route is well under three hours, you will not need to plan for an overnight stay, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
56.9 miles from San Diego, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a mindless highway cruise, as the route is categorized by its technical nature. While you will spend time on I-5 North, the trip is defined by navigating local roads like West Broadway and 1st Avenue. There is no significant uninterrupted stretch, with the longest segment on West Broadway measuring 0 miles, meaning you should be prepared for frequent maneuvering. Because the highway share is 0 percent, your attention will be consistently required on urban road layouts. This creates an engaging, active driving experience that keeps you involved from start to finish.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
San Diego Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 77.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Diego Freeway and San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 1st Avenue.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 113.8 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 0.1 miles (1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14.3 miles (I 5 / San Diego Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
1st Avenue
Turn left onto 1st Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
6
14.3 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
I 5 / San Diego Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / San Diego Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
68.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
CA 73 / San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 73 / San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor toward CA 73 North: Long Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 73 North: Long Beach
7
108.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 7m in
Take the exit toward Alameda Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 33A
Toward Alameda Street
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Freeway | 77.4 mi | 1h 30m |
| San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor | 14.1 mi | 16m |
| I 405 | 12.4 mi | 14m |
| South Alameda Street | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| Corona Del Mar Freeway | 4 mi | 4m |
| 1st Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Broadway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Compton Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
San Diego Freeway
— 77.4 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego, CA and Compton, CA.
1
Start on Front Street
26 ft
·
6 sec
·
Front Street
2
Turn left onto West Broadway
290 ft
·
12 sec
·
West Broadway
3
Turn left onto 1st Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Merge onto I 5
13 mi
·
15 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
36 mi
·
43 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
18 mi
·
20 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 73
14 mi
·
16 min
·
San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
Toward CA 73 North: Long Beach
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on CA 73
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Corona Del Mar Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 405
9.6 mi
·
11 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 405
12 mi
·
14 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 33A
Toward Alameda Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto CA 47
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
South Alameda Street
Use the right lane.
14
Turn right onto East Compton Boulevard
100 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Compton Boulevard
15
Arrive at destination
East Compton Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 14 minute duration, you have the advantage of being able to depart whenever it best fits your itinerary. Since this is a zero-stop route, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave to keep your $15 budget on track and your momentum steady. Pay close attention to the turn-heavy sections early in the trip, as navigating off West Broadway and 1st Avenue requires focus before you reach the main thoroughfare. Because there are no mandatory stops, feel free to use your time flexibly to adjust for traffic patterns along I-5 North. Staying alert during the local road transitions will help you navigate the route efficiently.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 56.9 miles from San Diego, CA, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.4 miles.
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 80 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.9 miles or 1h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Compton, 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 113.8 miles and 2h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from San Diego, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on San Diego Freeway for about 77.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 56.9 mi from San Diego, CA · 1h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
57 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 56.9 miles from San Diego, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before San Diego Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 77.4 miles.
Arriving in Compton, CA
The final approach into Compton, 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 Compton, 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
$26.35 one way
$52.71 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $27.18 | $54.36 |
| premium | $6.24 | $27.97 | $55.94 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $25.28 | $50.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.1 | 0 | $11.95 | $5.46 |
| Efficient EV | 28.5 | 0 | $9.96 | $4.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.5 | 0 | $15.93 | $7.28 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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
Compton, CA
Afternoon in Compton on Sunday
Local time
3:03 PM
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.
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
16 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
2h 14m 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 Compton, CA covers 113.8 miles and takes about 2h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are San Diego Freeway, San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor, I 405. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 56.9 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 $26.35 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 113.8 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 0.1 miles (1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14.3 miles (I 5 / San Diego Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from San Diego, CA to Compton, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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