Origin
San Diego, CA
Late night in San Diego on Monday
Local time
1:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Diego, CA to Altadena, CA
Drive Time
2h 43m
Distance
128.8 mi
207 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 32m
★
6 AM
2h 43m
8 AM
3h 5m
10 AM
2h 51m
12 PM
2h 49m
3 PM
2h 52m
5 PM
3h 3m
8 PM
2h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Diego, CA
Lindsey Willard
Altadena, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from San Diego, CA to Altadena, CA covers 128.8 miles and takes about 2h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Broadway, 1st Avenue, I 5 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.83 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
64.4 miles from San Diego, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 43m drive with frequent turns across 128.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 34 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 Altadena, CA is easy. At 2h 43m 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 Altadena, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Broadway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 1st Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 5 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| San Diego Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bake Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Jamboree Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| El Camino Real | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Newport Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
West Broadway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego, CA and Altadena, CA.
1
Start on Front Street
26 ft
·
6 sec
·
Front Street
2
Turn left onto West Broadway
289 ft
·
12 sec
·
West Broadway
3
Turn left onto 1st Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue
4
Take the ramp left toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
I 5 North: Los Angeles
5
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
13 mi
·
15 min
·
San Diego Freeway
6
Keep slight left to continue on San Diego Freeway
36 mi
·
43 min
·
San Diego Freeway
7
Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway
18 mi
·
20 min
·
San Diego Freeway
8
Keep slight left to continue on San Diego Freeway
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
San Diego Freeway
9
Keep slight right to continue on Bake Parkway
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bake Parkway
10
Keep slight right
6.0 mi
·
6 min
11
Take the exit slight right toward Jamboree Road
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Jamboree Road
12
Continue straight
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
13
Turn right onto Jamboree Road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Jamboree Road
14
Turn left onto El Camino Real
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
El Camino Real
15
Turn left onto Newport Avenue
358 ft
·
14 sec
·
Newport Avenue
16
Take the ramp right toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 5 North: Los Angeles
17
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
18
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
19
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
20
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
21
Take the exit slight left toward I 710 North: Pasadena
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 710 North: Pasadena
22
Merge slight right onto Long Beach Freeway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Long Beach Freeway
23
Turn right onto West Valley Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Valley Boulevard
24
Turn left onto South Fremont Avenue
3.3 mi
·
7 min
·
South Fremont Avenue
25
At the end of the road, turn left onto Columbia Street
174 ft
·
7 sec
·
Columbia Street
26
Turn right onto South Pasadena Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Pasadena Avenue
27
Turn slight left onto Long Beach Freeway
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Long Beach Freeway
28
Take the exit slight right toward I 210 East: San Bernardino
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 210 East: San Bernardino
29
Merge slight left onto Ventura Freeway
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
Ventura Freeway
30
Merge slight right onto Foothill Freeway
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
Foothill Freeway
31
Take the exit slight right toward Lake Avenue
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Lake Avenue
32
Turn straight onto East Corson Street
446 ft
·
10 sec
·
East Corson Street
33
Turn left onto North Lake Avenue
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
North Lake Avenue
34
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 64.4 miles from San Diego, CA, or about 1h 21m 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 80 miles or 1h 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.4 miles or 1h 21m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Altadena, 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 128.8 miles and 2h 43m.
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.
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 64.4 mi from San Diego, CA · 1h 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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 64.4 miles from San Diego, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Altadena, CA
The final approach into Altadena, 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 Altadena, 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
$29.83 one way
$59.65 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $30.76 | $61.52 |
| premium | $6.24 | $31.66 | $63.31 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $28.61 | $57.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.6 | 0 | $13.52 | $6.18 |
| Efficient EV | 32.2 | 0 | $11.27 | $5.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.5 | 0 | $18.03 | $8.24 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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
Altadena, CA
Late night in Altadena on Monday
Local time
1:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°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
18 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 43m 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 Altadena, CA covers 128.8 miles and takes about 2h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Broadway, 1st Avenue, I 5 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 64.4 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 $29.83 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 Altadena, CA is easy. At 2h 43m 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 Altadena, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from San Diego, CA to Altadena, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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