Origin
San Diego, CA
Morning in San Diego on Tuesday
Local time
10:30 AM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Diego, CA to McKinleyville, CA
Data updated 1 second ago
Drive Time
15h 6m
Distance
803.8 mi
1,294 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$185
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
14h 52m
★
6 AM
15h 6m
8 AM
15h 33m
10 AM
15h 16m
12 PM
15h 13m
3 PM
15h 17m
5 PM
15h 32m
8 PM
14h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Diego, CA
Wikimedia Commons
McKinleyville, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from San Diego, CA to McKinleyville, CA covers 803.8 miles and takes about 15h 6m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Westside Freeway, CA 299, San Diego Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 425.9 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $184.75 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
4 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
401.9 miles from San Diego, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 7h 32m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
At 803.8 miles and 15h 6m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Westside Freeway and CA 299.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 43 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Westside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 425.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and CA 299. 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.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 38 significant decision points across 803.8 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 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 38 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
76.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
|
I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward Bake Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Bake Parkway
7
83.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward Jamboree Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 100
Toward Jamboree Road
7
84 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
|
Jamboree Road
Turn right onto Jamboree Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
9
144.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 52m in
|
I 5 Truck
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
7
204.7 mi into trip
|
~4h in
|
I 5 / Westside Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway toward I 5 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 North
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between San Diego, CA and McKinleyville, CA, road signs point toward Susanville and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.
Susanville
662.1 mi in
|
~12h 14m
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
662.3 mi in
|
~12h 14m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 425.9 mi | 7h 39m |
| CA 299 | 109.8 mi | 2h 9m |
| San Diego Freeway | 75.2 mi | 1h 27m |
| Golden State Freeway | 50 mi | 57m |
| I 5 Truck | 45.3 mi | 52m |
| Cascade Wonderland Highway | 31.6 mi | 34m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 30.4 mi | 35m |
| Eureka Way | 25 mi | 29m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 425.9 mi, about 7h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego, CA and McKinleyville, 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 left at fork onto I 5
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Toward Bake Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 100
Toward Jamboree Road
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on this road
527 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
13
Turn right onto Jamboree Road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Jamboree Road
Use the left / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto El Camino Real
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
El Camino Real
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto Newport Avenue
357 ft
·
13 sec
·
Newport Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
17
Merge onto I 5
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
25 mi
·
29 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi
·
41 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
226 mi
·
4 hr 1 min
·
Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
26 mi
·
27 min
·
Westside Freeway
28
Keep left at fork onto I 5
54 mi
·
59 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
121 mi
·
2 hr 10 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on I 5
32 mi
·
34 min
·
Cascade Wonderland Highway
31
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 678
Toward CA 44: Eureka, Susanville
32
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 678
Toward CA 44 West: Eureka, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
33
Merge onto CA 44
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 44
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Turn right onto CA 44; CA 273; US 99 Hist
489 ft
·
17 sec
·
Pine Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
35
Turn left onto CA 44; CA 273; US 99 Hist
25 mi
·
29 min
·
Eureka Way
Use the left lane.
36
Continue on CA 299
110 mi
·
2 hr 9 min
·
CA 299
37
Take the exit onto 2
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
2
38
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 200
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
North Bank Road
39
Turn right onto US 101 BUS
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Central Avenue
Use the straight lane.
40
Turn right
87 ft
·
8 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
41
Turn right
55 ft
·
9 sec
Use the straight / right lanes.
42
Turn left
12 ft
·
0 sec
43
Arrive at 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 4 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 401.9 miles from San Diego, CA, or about 7h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 425.9 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 177 miles or 3h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 401.9 miles or 7h 32m 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 401.9 miles or 7h 32m
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 13h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near McKinleyville, 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.
+
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 San Diego, CA
Aim for roughly 402 miles and 7.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into McKinleyville, CA
Aim for roughly 402 miles and 7.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 177 miles from San Diego, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 4 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 425.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 401.9 mi from San Diego, CA · 7h 32m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
265 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
531 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 Red Bluff, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
402 mi · about 7.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Chico, CA after about 402 miles or 7.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 177 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 401.9 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 Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 425.9 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 402 miles or 7.6 hours on the road.
Arriving in McKinleyville, CA
The final approach into McKinleyville, 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 McKinleyville, CA.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach McKinleyville, 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
$184.75 one way
$369.49 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
281 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $190.38 | $380.76 |
| premium | $6.18 | $195.48 | $390.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $177.47 | $354.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$185
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$315–$425
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 281.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $84 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 241.1 | 2 | $84.40 | $38.58 |
| Efficient EV | 201 | 2 | $70.33 | $32.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 321.5 | 4 | $112.53 | $51.44 |
Gas CO2
281 kg
EV CO2
94 kg (67% 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.
Destination
McKinleyville, CA
Morning in McKinleyville on Tuesday
Local time
10:30 AM
PDT
Current temp
45°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
27 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
15h 6m 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 San Diego, CA to McKinleyville, CA covers 803.8 miles and takes about 15h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, CA 299, San Diego Freeway. 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 402 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 401.9 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 $184.75 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 4 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 38 significant decision points across 803.8 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 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.
Between San Diego, CA and McKinleyville, CA, road signs point toward Susanville and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area.
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