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Trip from San Diego, CA to Olivehurst, CA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

10h 7m

Distance

540.9 mi

870 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$124

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
9h 58m ★
6 AM
10h 7m
8 AM
10h 25m
10 AM
10h 13m
12 PM
10h 12m
3 PM
10h 14m
5 PM
10h 24m
8 PM
10h 2m

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 Olivehurst, CA, CA

Olivehurst, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

The drive from San Diego, CA to Olivehurst, CA covers 540.9 miles and takes about 10h 7m 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 long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $124.32 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

270.4 miles from San Diego, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 3m into the drive .

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

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

10h 7m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Long-distance drive route profile.

Drive Character

At 540.9 miles and 10h 7m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are West Broadway and 1st Avenue.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 37 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?

At 10h 7m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. Navigation is simple, but the total wheel time makes endurance and break timing the real challenge.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

Navigation is easy, but the length (10h 7m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Diego, CA to Olivehurst, 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 Olivehurst, 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 right to continue on Westside Freeway

26 mi · 27 min · Westside Freeway
28

Keep left to continue on Westside Freeway

54 mi · 59 min · Westside Freeway
29

Keep slight right to continue on Golden State Highway

7.5 mi · 8 min · Golden State Highway
30

Continue on Bernie Richter Memorial Highway

5.0 mi · 5 min · Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
31

Keep slight right to continue on CA 70 North: Marysville, Oroville

18 mi · 20 min · CA 70 North: Marysville, Oroville
32

Take the exit slight right toward Olivehurst Avenue

0.3 mi · 45 sec · Olivehurst Avenue
33

Turn left onto Olivehurst Avenue

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Olivehurst Avenue
34

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Olivehurst Avenue

108 ft · 2 sec · Olivehurst Avenue
35

Exit the roundabout onto Olivehurst Avenue

0.4 mi · 48 sec · Olivehurst Avenue
36

Turn right onto 7th Avenue

164 ft · 6 sec · 7th Avenue
37

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 270.4 miles from San Diego, CA, or about 5h 3m 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 119 miles or 2h 13m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 270.4 miles or 5h 3m 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 270.4 miles or 5h 3m

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 59m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Olivehurst, 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 270 miles and 5.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Olivehurst, CA

Aim for roughly 270 miles and 5.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 119 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.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 270.4 mi from San Diego, CA · 5h 3m into the drive

Downtown los-angeles-ca

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Los Angeles, CA

178 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Popular next leg

Los Angeles, CA to Fresno, CA

218.8 mi · 4h 6m

county seat of Fresno County, California, United States

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Fresno, CA

357 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 Fresno, CA

Overnight Options

Night 1

Santa Clarita, CA

270 mi · about 5.1h in

A practical overnight split lands near Santa Clarita, CA after about 270 miles or 5.1 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Irvine, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 119 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Santa Clarita, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 270.4 miles from San Diego, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 270 miles or 5.1 hours on the road.

Arriving in Olivehurst, CA

The final approach into Olivehurst, 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 Olivehurst, CA.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Olivehurst, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$124.32 one way

$248.64 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 189 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $128.11 $256.22
premium $6.18 $131.54 $263.08
diesel $5.61 $119.42 $238.85

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$124

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$254–$364

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 189.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $57 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 162.3 2 $56.79 $25.96
Efficient EV 135.2 1 $47.33 $21.64
EV Truck/SUV 216.4 2 $75.73 $34.62

Gas CO2

189 kg

EV CO2

63 kg (67% less)

Plan for 2 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

Late night in San Diego on Saturday

Local time

2:31 AM

PDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Olivehurst, CA

Late night in Olivehurst on Saturday

Local time

2:31 AM

PDT

Current temp

68°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

12 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

10h 7m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from San Diego, CA to Olivehurst, CA covers 540.9 miles and takes about 10h 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.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 270 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 270.4 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 $124.32 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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Navigation is easy, but the length (10h 7m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from San Diego, CA to Olivehurst, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from San Diego, CA to Olivehurst, 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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Explore More

Return Trip

Olivehurst, CA to San Diego, CA

Plan the drive back the other way.

541.3 mi 10h 8m

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.