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Trip from San Diego, CA to Bonita, CA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

17m

Distance

11.8 mi

19 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 16m ★
6 AM
0h 17m
8 AM
0h 20m
10 AM
0h 18m
12 PM
0h 18m
3 PM
0h 18m
5 PM
0h 20m
8 PM
0h 16m ★

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

seat of San Diego County, California, United States; second-largest city in California

San Diego, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Bonita, CA, CA

Bonita, CA

Beatriz Novaes

Trip Overview

The drive from San Diego, CA to Bonita, CA covers 11.8 miles and takes about 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on West Broadway, 16th Street, G Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.71 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

0 planned breaks

This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.

Midpoint

5.9 miles from San Diego, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 8m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 17m drive with frequent turns across 11.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 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 Bonita, CA is easy. At 17m 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 Bonita, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
West Broadway
16th Street
G Street
Martin Luther King Junior Freeway
I 805 South
Jacob Dekema Freeway
E Street
Bonita Road

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: West Broadway — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between San Diego, CA and Bonita, CA.

1

Start on Front Street

26 ft · 6 sec · Front Street
2

Turn left onto West Broadway

0.9 mi · 1 min · West Broadway
3

Turn right onto 16th Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · 16th Street
4

Turn left onto G Street

279 ft · 10 sec · G Street
5

Continue on Martin Luther King Junior Freeway

2.3 mi · 2 min · Martin Luther King Junior Freeway
6

Take the exit slight right toward I 805 South

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 805 South
7

Merge slight left onto Jacob Dekema Freeway

4.9 mi · 5 min · Jacob Dekema Freeway
8

Take the exit slight right toward E Street, Bonita Road

0.3 mi · 35 sec · E Street, Bonita Road
9

Turn left onto Bonita Road

2.1 mi · 3 min · Bonita Road
10

Turn right onto Otay Lakes Road

0.3 mi · 34 sec · Otay Lakes Road
11

Turn right onto Allen School Lane

75 ft · 3 sec · Allen School Lane
12

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 5.9 miles from San Diego, CA, or about 8m 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 11.8 miles or 17m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 5.9 miles or 8m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 14m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bonita, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Have your navigation ready before leaving San Diego, CA.

Day 1

Settle into the route from San Diego, CA

This is one driving day of about 11.8 miles and 17m.

At 11.8 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 5.9 mi from San Diego, CA · 8m into the drive

Pacing Suggestions

Chula Vista, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

National City, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 5.9 miles from San Diego, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Bonita, CA

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Bonita, CA if you are unfamiliar with the area.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.71 one way

$5.42 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 4 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $2.79 $5.59
premium $6.18 $2.87 $5.74
diesel $5.61 $2.61 $5.21

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$28–$53

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 4.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 3.5 0 $1.24 $0.57
Efficient EV 3 0 $1.03 $0.47
EV Truck/SUV 4.7 0 $1.65 $0.76

Gas CO2

4 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (75% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

San Diego, CA

Evening in San Diego on Wednesday

Local time

5:49 PM

PDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Bonita, CA

Evening in Bonita on Wednesday

Local time

5:49 PM

PDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

15 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

17m 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 Bonita, CA covers 11.8 miles and takes about 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Broadway, 16th Street, G Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 5.9 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 $2.71 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.
The drive from San Diego, CA to Bonita, CA is easy. At 17m 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 Bonita, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from San Diego, CA to Bonita, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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