Origin
San Diego, CA
Afternoon in San Diego on Saturday
Local time
1:41 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Diego, CA to Foster City, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 16m
Distance
492 mi
792 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$113
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 9m
★
6 AM
9h 17m
8 AM
9h 34m
10 AM
9h 23m
12 PM
9h 21m
3 PM
9h 24m
5 PM
9h 33m
8 PM
9h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Diego, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Foster City, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from San Diego, CA to Foster City, CA covers 492 miles and takes about 9h 16m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on West Broadway, 1st Avenue, I 5 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $113.08 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
246 miles from San Diego, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 38m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Broadway | — | — |
| 1st Avenue | — | — |
| I 5 North | — | — |
| San Diego Freeway | — | — |
| Bake Parkway | — | — |
| Jamboree Road | — | — |
| El Camino Real | — | — |
| Newport Avenue | — | — |
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 Foster City, 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
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
21
Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Freeway
25 mi
·
29 min
·
Golden State Freeway
22
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden State Freeway
23
Keep slight right to continue on I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
24
Keep slight left
36 mi
·
41 min
25
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
26
Keep slight right to continue on Westside Freeway
226 mi
·
4 hr 1 min
·
Westside Freeway
27
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
16 mi
·
17 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
28
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
29
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
30
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
31
Take the exit slight right toward Redwood Road
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Redwood Road
32
Turn left onto Redwood Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Redwood Road
33
Continue on A Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
A Street
34
Turn left onto Mission Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Mission Boulevard
35
Turn slight right onto Jackson Street
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Jackson Street
36
Keep slight left
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
37
Keep slight right
7.8 mi
·
8 min
38
Take the exit slight right toward Foster City Boulevard, East Hillsdale Boulevard, Third Avenue
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Foster City Boulevard, East Hillsdale Boulevard, Third Avenue
39
Keep slight right to continue on Foster City Boulevard, East Hillsdale Boulevard, Third Avenue
407 ft
·
5 sec
·
Foster City Boulevard, East Hillsdale Boulevard, Third Avenue
40
Turn straight onto Chess Drive
125 ft
·
2 sec
·
Chess Drive
41
Turn right onto Foster City Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Foster City Boulevard
42
Turn right onto Civic Center Drive
207 ft
·
9 sec
·
Civic Center Drive
43
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Civic Center Drive
85 ft
·
5 sec
·
Civic Center Drive
44
Exit the roundabout onto Civic Center Drive
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Civic Center Drive
45
At the end of the road, turn right onto Shell Boulevard
312 ft
·
6 sec
·
Shell Boulevard
46
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 246 miles from San Diego, CA, or about 4h 38m into the drive.
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 108 miles or 2h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 246 miles or 4h 38m 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 246 miles or 4h 38m
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 8h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Foster City, 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 246 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Foster City, CA
Aim for roughly 246 miles and 4.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 108 miles from San Diego, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
246 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 Santa Clarita, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
246 mi · about 4.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Santa Clarita, CA after about 246 miles or 4.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 108 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 246 miles from San Diego, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 246 miles or 4.6 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$113.08 one way
$226.17 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
172 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $116.53 | $233.06 |
| premium | $6.18 | $119.65 | $239.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $108.63 | $217.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$113
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$243–$353
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 172.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $52 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 147.6 | 1 | $51.66 | $23.62 |
| Efficient EV | 123 | 1 | $43.05 | $19.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 196.8 | 2 | $68.88 | $31.49 |
Gas CO2
172 kg
EV CO2
58 kg (66% 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
Foster City, CA
Afternoon in Foster City on Saturday
Local time
1:41 PM
PDT
Current temp
66°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
10 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
9h 16m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
492 mi in 9h 16m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
46 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: West Broadway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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
4/10
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 9h 16m, 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 Foster City, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
About the Cities
Starting in San Diego, CA
Full guide →Founded 1769
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.
Top landmarks
- • Balboa Park — historic park in San Diego, California
- • Cabrillo National Monument — National Monument of the United States and historic district
Arriving in Foster City, CA
Full guide →Founded 1971
Foster City is a quiet suburban city on the Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. Primarily residential and lacking in a downtown, it also has a couple of large office parks and several large employers including Gilead, Visa, and Sony.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
9h 16m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 246 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Foster City, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Diego, CA to Foster City, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.3 hours each way, a round trip means 18.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Foster City, CA before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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