Drive Time
6h 45m
Distance
350.7 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
The drive from San Diego, CA to Barstow, CA covers 350.7 miles and takes about 6h 45m 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 $47.63 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
175.3 miles from San Diego, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 22m into the drive .
Expect a 6h 45m drive with frequent turns across 350.7 miles of local and secondary 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.
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego, CA and Barstow, CA.
Start on Front Street
Turn left onto West Broadway
Turn left onto 1st Avenue
Take the ramp left toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on San Diego Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on San Diego Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Bake Parkway
Keep slight right
Take the exit slight right toward Jamboree Road
Continue straight
Turn right onto Jamboree Road
Turn left onto El Camino Real
Turn left onto Newport Avenue
Take the ramp right toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Keep slight left
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
Continue on Golden State Highway
Take the exit slight right toward Shaw Avenue
Turn right onto West Shaw Avenue
Turn right onto North Dickenson Avenue
Turn right onto West Barstow Avenue
Arrive at your destination
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 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 175.3 miles or 3h 22m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Barstow, 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 350.7 miles and 6h 45m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 175.3 mi from San Diego, CA · 3h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
175 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 175.3 miles from San Diego, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Barstow, 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 Barstow, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$47.63 one way
$95.27 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $53.16 | $106.31 |
| premium | $4.15 | $57.30 | $114.60 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $51.78 | $103.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 122.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 105.2 | 1 | $36.82 | $16.83 |
| Efficient EV | 87.7 | 1 | $30.69 | $14.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 140.3 | 1 | $49.10 | $22.44 |
Gas CO2
123 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in San Diego on Saturday
Local time
4:35 AM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Barstow on Saturday
Local time
4:35 AM
PDT
Current temp
75°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
76°F
Santa Clarita, CA
175 mi in
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.
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