Drive Time
2h 31m
Distance
158 mi
254 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
Photo: Lindsey Willard
The drive from Santa Clarita, CA to San Diego, CA covers 158 miles and takes about 2h 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 16th Street, Orchard Village Road, Lyons Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.46 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
79 miles from Santa Clarita, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 15m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 31m drive with frequent turns across 158 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 16th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Orchard Village Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lyons Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Newhall Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 14 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Antelope Valley Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Golden State Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 405 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Clarita, CA and San Diego, CA.
Start on Newhall Avenue
Turn right onto 16th Street
Turn left onto Orchard Village Road
Turn left onto Lyons Avenue
Turn right onto Newhall Avenue
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Newhall Avenue
Exit the roundabout onto Newhall Avenue
Take the ramp right toward CA 14 South: Los Angeles
Merge slight left onto Antelope Valley Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Antelope Valley Freeway
Keep slight left
Merge slight left onto Golden State Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
Keep slight left
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
Keep slight left
Keep slight left to continue on I 5 South
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward Newport Avenue
Turn right onto Newport Avenue
Turn left onto Walnut Avenue
Turn left onto Jamboree Road
Take the exit slight right toward I 5 South
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
Merge slight right onto San Diego Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
Keep slight right to continue on Front Street, Civic Center
Continue on Front Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79 miles or 1h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Diego, CA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Santa Clarita, 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 Santa Clarita, CA
This is one driving day of about 158 miles and 2h 31m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79 mi from Santa Clarita, CA · 1h 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
79 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 79 miles from Santa Clarita, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into San Diego, 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 San Diego, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$21.46 one way
$42.92 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $23.95 | $47.90 |
| premium | $4.15 | $25.81 | $51.63 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $23.33 | $46.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.4 | 0 | $16.59 | $7.58 |
| Efficient EV | 39.5 | 0 | $13.83 | $6.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.2 | 0 | $22.12 | $10.11 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (67% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Santa Clarita on Saturday
Local time
7:02 AM
PDT
Current temp
76°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in San Diego on Saturday
Local time
7:02 AM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
75°F
Santa Ana, CA
79 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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