Origin
San Diego, CA
Night in San Diego on Friday
Local time
10:02 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Diego, CA to Cambria, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 57m
Distance
344.7 mi
555 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$79
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 47m
★
6 AM
6h 58m
8 AM
7h 21m
10 AM
7h 6m
12 PM
7h 4m
3 PM
7h 7m
5 PM
7h 20m
8 PM
6h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Diego, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Cambria, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from San Diego, CA to Cambria, CA covers 344.7 miles and takes about 6h 57m 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 $79.23 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
172.4 miles from San Diego, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 28m into the drive .
About the Cities
Starting in San Diego, CA
Full guide →From balmy beaches with a laid-back attitude to a gleaming modern image, San Diego offers much for the tourist to enjoy. Situated on the Southern California seacoast, San Diego is the second largest city in the state, with 1.4 million residents (2020), and has long attracted travelers for its ideal climate, miles of beaches, and location on the Mexican border right across from Tijuana. But there's much more here than surfer culture and a quick hop across the border. A rich maritime and military heritage lives on in San Diego, which is home to the Pacific Fleet of the United States Navy. The city has also become known for its part in the wildlife conservation movement, owing to the presence of the world-renowned San Diego Zoo and Safari Park and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Natural scenery abounds from rocky tidepools and seaside cliffs to desert hills and canyons inland.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 57m. Total distance: 344.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 57m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 57m drive with frequent turns across 344.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 36 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 57m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Diego, CA to Cambria, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Broadway | — | — |
| 1st Avenue | — | — |
| I 5 North | — | — |
| San Diego Freeway | — | — |
| San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor | — | — |
| Corona Del Mar Freeway | — | — |
| US 101 North | — | — |
| Ventura Freeway | — | — |
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 Cambria, 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 right to continue on San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
14 mi
·
16 min
·
San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
9
Continue on Corona Del Mar Freeway
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Corona Del Mar Freeway
10
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
9.6 mi
·
11 min
·
San Diego Freeway
11
Keep slight left
43 mi
·
49 min
12
Take the exit slight right toward US 101 North, US 101 South: Ventura, Los Angeles
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 101 North, US 101 South: Ventura, Los Angeles
13
Keep slight left to continue on US 101 North: Ventura
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 101 North: Ventura
14
Merge slight right onto Ventura Freeway
47 mi
·
54 min
·
Ventura Freeway
15
Keep slight left
18 mi
·
21 min
16
Continue on El Camino Real
16 mi
·
18 min
·
El Camino Real
17
Take the exit slight right toward CA 154: State Street, Cachuma Lake
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
CA 154: State Street, Cachuma Lake
18
Continue on Calle Real
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Calle Real
19
Turn right onto Chumash Highway
24 mi
·
33 min
·
Chumash Highway
20
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Chumash Highway
115 ft
·
2 sec
·
Chumash Highway
21
Exit the roundabout onto Chumash Highway
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Chumash Highway
22
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Chumash Highway
141 ft
·
2 sec
·
Chumash Highway
23
Exit the roundabout onto Chumash Highway
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Chumash Highway
24
Take the ramp right toward US 101 North
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 101 North
25
Merge slight left
56 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
26
Take the exit slight right toward Osos Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Osos Street
27
Turn left onto Walnut Street
502 ft
·
24 sec
·
Walnut Street
28
Turn left onto Santa Rosa Street
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Santa Rosa Street
29
Continue on Cabrillo Highway
30 mi
·
38 min
·
Cabrillo Highway
30
Turn right onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Main Street
31
Turn left onto Eton Road
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Eton Road
32
At the end of the road, turn left onto Eton Road
344 ft
·
8 sec
·
Eton Road
33
Continue on Burton Drive
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
Burton Drive
34
Turn right onto Village Lane
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Village Lane
35
Continue on Village Lane
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Village Lane
36
Arrive at your 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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 172.4 miles from San Diego, CA, or about 3h 28m 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 76 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 172.4 miles or 3h 28m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cambria, 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 344.7 miles and 6h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 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 172.4 mi from San Diego, CA · 3h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
172 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 76 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 172.4 miles from San Diego, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cambria, CA
The final approach into Cambria, 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 Cambria, 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
$79.23 one way
$158.45 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
121 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $81.64 | $163.28 |
| premium | $6.18 | $83.83 | $167.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $76.11 | $152.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$79
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$104–$129
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 120.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 103.4 | 1 | $36.19 | $16.55 |
| Efficient EV | 86.2 | 0 | $30.16 | $13.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 137.9 | 1 | $48.26 | $22.06 |
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
40 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.
Destination
Cambria, CA
Night in Cambria on Friday
Local time
10:02 PM
PDT
Current temp
52°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
4 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
6h 57m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from San Diego, CA to Cambria, CA covers 344.7 miles and takes about 6h 57m 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 172.4 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 $79.23 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 57m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Diego, CA to Cambria, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from San Diego, CA to Cambria, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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