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Trip from San Diego, CA to Lost Hills, CA

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

5h 7m

Distance

265.1 mi

427 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$61

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 54m ★
6 AM
5h 7m
8 AM
5h 34m
10 AM
5h 16m
12 PM
5h 14m
3 PM
5h 18m
5 PM
5h 33m
8 PM
4h 59m

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

census-designated place in Kern County, California

Lost Hills, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from San Diego, CA to Lost Hills, CA covers 265.1 miles and takes about 5h 7m 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 $60.93 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

132.6 miles from San Diego, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 33m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 7m. Total distance: 265.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 7m drive with frequent turns across 265.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 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.

This is a straightforward 5h 7m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Diego, CA to Lost Hills, 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
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 Lost Hills, 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

58 mi · 1 hr 1 min · Westside Freeway
27

Take the exit slight right toward CA 46: Lost Hills, Paso Robles

0.3 mi · 28 sec · CA 46: Lost Hills, Paso Robles
28

Turn left onto Paso Robles Highway

2.4 mi · 3 min · Paso Robles Highway
29

Turn right onto Farnsworth Avenue

112 ft · 10 sec · Farnsworth Avenue
30

Turn left

26 ft · 2 sec
31

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 132.6 miles from San Diego, CA, or about 2h 33m 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 58 miles or 1h 7m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 132.6 miles or 2h 33m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 11m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lost Hills, 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 265.1 miles and 5h 7m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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 132.6 mi from San Diego, CA · 2h 33m into the drive

Downtown los-angeles-ca

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Los Angeles, CA

133 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.

Popular next leg

Los Angeles, CA to Lost Hills, CA

144.9 mi · 2h 46m

Pacing Suggestions

Irvine, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Los Angeles, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 132.6 miles from San Diego, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Lost Hills, CA

The final approach into Lost Hills, 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 Lost Hills, 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

$60.93 one way

$121.86 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 93 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $62.79 $125.58
premium $6.18 $64.47 $128.94
diesel $5.61 $58.53 $117.06

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$61

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$86–$111

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 92.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 79.5 0 $27.84 $12.72
Efficient EV 66.3 0 $23.20 $10.60
EV Truck/SUV 106 1 $37.11 $16.97

Gas CO2

93 kg

EV CO2

31 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 Thursday

Local time

5:56 PM

PDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lost Hills, CA

Evening in Lost Hills on Thursday

Local time

5:56 PM

PDT

Current temp

50°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

6 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

5h 7m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 Lost Hills, CA covers 265.1 miles and takes about 5h 7m 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 132.6 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 $60.93 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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.
This is a straightforward 5h 7m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Diego, CA to Lost Hills, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from San Diego, CA to Lost Hills, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Lost Hills, CA to San Diego, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

265.5 mi 5h 8m

Explore more options from San Diego, CA or browse trips ending in Lost Hills, CA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.

Explore maps for San Diego, CA or Lost Hills, CA on MapSof.net.