Origin
San Diego, CA
Afternoon in San Diego on Sunday
Local time
3:06 PM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
6h 12m
Distance
324.1 mi
522 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$75
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Diego, CA
Lindsey Willard
Lemoore, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Driving from San Diego to Lemoore covers 324.1 miles and typically takes about 6 hours and 12 minutes of active time on the road. You will primarily navigate via West Broadway, 1st Avenue, and I-5 North as you transition through the Pacific Coast region. Given the total duration, this journey is manageable as a one-day trip, though you should budget approximately $44 for fuel. Because the route involves a turn-heavy local start, you will experience a shift from urban streets to longer highway stretches. It is a straightforward transit that requires minimal logistical planning, making it an efficient choice if you are looking to reach Lemoore without an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
162 miles from San Diego, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 11m into the drive .
Expect a varied experience behind the wheel as you shift from city navigation to regional transit. The route begins with a turn-heavy local drive through San Diego, meaning you won't find long, uninterrupted highway stretches right out of the gate. In fact, your longest stretch on West Broadway is 0 miles, requiring your full attention early on. While the drive utilizes I-5 North to cover the bulk of the distance, the overall highway share is 0 percent, emphasizing the local nature of these roads. You will find that the character of the pavement changes significantly as you move away from the immediate coastal urban centers.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Golden State Freeway and San Diego Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 76.1 miles in near I 5 Truck.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 31 significant decision points across 324.1 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 76.1 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 84 miles (Jamboree Road): Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward Bake Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Jamboree Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Jamboree Road
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward CA 198 West: Hanford, Lemoore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Golden State Freeway | 83.3 mi | 1h 34m |
| San Diego Freeway | 75.2 mi | 1h 27m |
| Golden State Highway | 63.6 mi | 1h 8m |
| I 5 Truck | 45.3 mi | 52m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 30.4 mi | 35m |
| CA 198 | 21 mi | 24m |
| El Camino Real | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| 1st Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego, CA and Lemoore, CA.
Start on Front Street
Turn left onto West Broadway
Turn left onto 1st Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Turn right onto Jamboree Road
Turn left onto El Camino Real
Turn left onto Newport Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
Continue on CA 99
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Merge onto CA 198
Take the exit
Turn right onto South Lemoore Avenue
Turn left onto West Bush Street
Turn right onto Follett Street
Arrive at destination
To make the most of your 324.1-mile journey, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the drive. Leaving early in the day is your best strategy to avoid traffic congestion during the initial turn-heavy segments in San Diego. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $44 cost estimate can fluctuate based on your vehicle's efficiency and local pricing along the way. Since this is a single-day trip, maintain a steady pace rather than rushing through the local road sections. A helpful tip for this specific route is to stay focused during the start, as the frequent turns on West Broadway and 1st Avenue require more navigation precision than the later segments.
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 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 162 miles or 3h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lemoore, CA than in the middle of the route.
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 324.1 miles and 6h 12m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 162 mi from San Diego, CA · 3h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
162 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 162 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 Golden State Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 83.3 miles.
The final approach into Lemoore, 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 Lemoore, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$75.05 one way
$150.11 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $77.40 | $154.80 |
| premium | $6.24 | $79.66 | $159.32 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $72.00 | $144.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$75
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$100–$125
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 97.2 | 1 | $34.03 | $15.56 |
| Efficient EV | 81 | 0 | $28.36 | $12.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 129.6 | 1 | $45.37 | $20.74 |
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in San Diego on Sunday
Local time
3:06 PM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Lemoore on Sunday
Local time
3:06 PM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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