Origin
Signal Hill, CA
Night in Signal Hill on Friday
Local time
11:29 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Signal Hill, CA to San Diego, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 38m
Distance
106.1 mi
171 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 31m
★
6 AM
1h 38m
8 AM
1h 53m
10 AM
1h 43m
12 PM
1h 42m
3 PM
1h 44m
5 PM
1h 52m
8 PM
1h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Signal Hill, CA
Wikimedia Commons
San Diego, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Signal Hill, CA to San Diego, CA covers 106.1 miles and takes about 1h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Willow Street, I 405 South, San Diego Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.39 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.
Midpoint
53.1 miles from Signal Hill, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
About the Cities
Arriving 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 1h 38m. Total distance: 106.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m 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 1h 38m drive with frequent turns across 106.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Willow Street 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Signal Hill, CA to San Diego, CA is easy. At 1h 38m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Signal Hill, CA to San Diego, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Willow Street | — | — |
| I 405 South | — | — |
| San Diego Freeway | — | — |
| Corona Del Mar Freeway | — | — |
| San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor | — | — |
| La Paz Road | — | — |
| CA 73 South | — | — |
| Front Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East Willow Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Signal Hill, CA and San Diego, CA.
1
Start on East Willow Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
East Willow Street
2
Continue on East Willow Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
East Willow Street
3
Take the ramp slight right toward I 405 South
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 405 South
4
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
San Diego Freeway
5
Keep slight right to continue on San Diego Freeway
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
San Diego Freeway
6
Keep slight left to continue on San Diego Freeway
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
San Diego Freeway
7
Keep slight left
10 mi
·
11 min
8
Keep slight right to continue on Corona Del Mar Freeway
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Corona Del Mar Freeway
9
Continue on San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
10 mi
·
11 min
·
San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
10
Take the exit slight right toward La Paz Road, Moulton Parkway
436 ft
·
6 sec
·
La Paz Road, Moulton Parkway
11
Keep slight left to continue on CA 73 South: Moulton Parkway
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
CA 73 South: Moulton Parkway
12
Keep slight left to continue on CA 73 South
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
CA 73 South
13
Merge slight left onto San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
14
Merge slight left onto San Diego Freeway
68 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
San Diego Freeway
15
Take the exit slight right toward Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
16
Keep slight right to continue on Front Street, Civic Center
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Front Street, Civic Center
17
Continue on Front Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Front Street
18
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 53.1 miles from Signal Hill, CA, or about 49m 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 23 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.1 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Diego, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Signal Hill, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Signal Hill, CA
This is one driving day of about 106.1 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Signal Hill, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 53.1 mi from Signal Hill, CA · 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 53.1 miles from Signal Hill, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in San Diego, CA
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.39 one way
$48.77 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $25.13 | $50.26 |
| premium | $6.18 | $25.80 | $51.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.43 | $46.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.8 | 0 | $11.14 | $5.09 |
| Efficient EV | 26.5 | 0 | $9.28 | $4.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.4 | 0 | $14.85 | $6.79 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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.
Destination
San Diego, CA
Night in San Diego on Friday
Local time
11:29 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 38m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Signal Hill, CA to San Diego, CA covers 106.1 miles and takes about 1h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Willow Street, I 405 South, San Diego Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 53.1 miles from Signal Hill, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.39 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Signal Hill, CA to San Diego, CA is easy. At 1h 38m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Signal Hill, CA to San Diego, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Signal Hill, CA to San Diego, 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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