Origin
Susanville, CA
Afternoon in Susanville on Saturday
Local time
12:44 PM
PDT
Current temp
32°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Susanville, 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
12h 53m
Distance
641.5 mi
1,032 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$147
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
12h 42m
★
6 AM
12h 53m
8 AM
13h 17m
10 AM
13h 2m
12 PM
12h 59m
3 PM
13h 3m
5 PM
13h 15m
8 PM
12h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Susanville, CA
Wikimedia Commons
San Diego, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Susanville, CA to San Diego, CA covers 641.5 miles and takes about 12h 53m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on US 395, Grand Army of the Republic Highway, Blue Star Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-haul drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 109.1 miles on US 395. At current regular gas prices, budget about $147.44 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
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
320.8 miles from Susanville, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6h 36m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 395 | 109.1 mi | 2h 21m |
| Grand Army of the Republic Highway | 104.6 mi | 2h 2m |
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | 103.3 mi | 2h 3m |
| Route 395 | 64.2 mi | 1h 14m |
| Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Highway | 50.9 mi | 57m |
| Main Street | 48 mi | 1h |
| I 215 Truck | 36.7 mi | 41m |
| Avocado Highway | 21.9 mi | 23m |
Longest stretch:
US 395
— 109.1 mi, about 2h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Susanville, CA and San Diego, CA.
1
Start on Foss Street
61 ft
·
5 sec
·
Foss Street
2
Turn right onto CA 36
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on US 395
64 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
Route 395
4
Continue on US 395
51 mi
·
57 min
·
Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Highway
5
Turn left onto US 395
11 mi
·
14 min
·
South Carson Street
Use the left lane.
6
Take the exit
488 ft
·
13 sec
7
Turn straight onto NV 88
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Woodfords Road
8
Enter roundabout onto County Road
144 ft
·
2 sec
·
County Road
9
Continue on County Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road
10
At end of road, turn right onto US 395
66 mi
·
1 hr 30 min
·
US 395
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto Emigrant Street
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Emigrant Street
12
At end of road, turn right onto Sinclair Street
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Sinclair Street
13
Turn left onto US 395
44 mi
·
53 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 395
44 mi
·
50 min
·
US 395
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn right onto North Barlow Lane
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Barlow Lane
16
Turn left onto CA 168
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Line Street
17
Turn right onto US 395; CA 168; US 6 Hist
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
18
Continue on US 395; CA 168; US 6 Hist
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
El Camino Sierra
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on US 395; CA 168; US 6 Hist
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
North Main Street
21
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
26 mi
·
31 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Edwards Street
23
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Main Street
25
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
56 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
26
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto US 395
30 mi
·
34 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
Toward US 395 South: San Bernardino
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on US 395
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Red Mountain Road
29
Continue on US 395
67 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
30
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 15 South: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
Use the straight lane.
31
Merge onto I 15; US 66 Hist
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Continue on I 15; US 66 Hist; US 91 Hist; US 395 Hist
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Continue on I 15; US 66 Hist
6.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Continue on I 215
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
Barstow Freeway
Exit 123
35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 215
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Barstow Freeway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
36
Continue on I 215
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Continue on I 215
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Take the exit onto I 215
5.1 mi
·
5 min
·
I 215
Toward I 215 South, CA 60 East: San Diego, Indio
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Keep slight right at fork onto I 215 Truck; CA 60 Truck
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 215 Truck; CA 60 Truck
Toward I 215, CA 60 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 215 Truck
36 mi
·
41 min
·
I 215 Truck
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
41
Continue on I 15
22 mi
·
23 min
·
Avocado Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Continue on I 15
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Escondido Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Keep slight right at fork onto I 15
8.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Escondido Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
44
Continue on I 15
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Tony Gwynn Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Continue on I 15
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Escondido Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Continue on I 15
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Semper Fi Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
47
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 12
Toward CA 163 South
Use the slight right lane.
48
Continue on CA 163
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Cabrillo Freeway
Toward CA 163
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
49
Continue on CA 163
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Cabrillo Parkway
50
Continue on CA 163
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cabrillo Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
51
Continue on CA 163
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
10th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
52
Turn right onto Broadway
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway
53
Turn left onto Front Street
26 ft
·
0 sec
·
Front Street
Use the left lane.
54
Arrive at destination
Front Street
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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 320.8 miles from Susanville, CA, or about 6h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.1 miles.
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 141 miles or 2h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 320.8 miles or 6h 36m 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 320.8 miles or 6h 36m
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 11h 44m
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 Susanville, 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 Susanville, CA
Aim for roughly 321 miles and 6.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into San Diego, CA
Aim for roughly 321 miles and 6.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 141 miles from Susanville, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 395 for about 109.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
212 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.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
423 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 Bakersfield, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
321 mi · about 6.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near South Lake Tahoe, CA after about 321 miles or 6.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 141 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 320.8 miles from Susanville, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 395 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 109.1 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 321 miles or 6.4 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 225 decision points cluster between mile 131.9 and 548.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
131.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 36m in
|
US 395
At end of road, turn right onto US 395
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
410.1 mi into trip
|
~8h 23m in
|
US 395 / Blue Star Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 395 / Blue Star Memorial Highway toward US 395 South: San Bernardino
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 395 South: San Bernardino
7
507.3 mi into trip
|
~10h 20m in
Take the exit toward I 15 South: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 15 South: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
7
543.6 mi into trip
|
~11h 1m in
|
I 215
Take the exit onto I 215 toward I 215 South, CA 60 East: San Diego, Indio
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 215 South, CA 60 East: San Diego, Indi...
8
548.8 mi into trip
|
~11h 7m in
|
I 215 Truck; CA 60 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 215 Truck; CA 60 Truck toward I 215, CA 60 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 215, CA 60 Truck
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$147.44 one way
$294.89 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
224 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $151.94 | $303.88 |
| premium | $6.18 | $156.01 | $312.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $141.64 | $283.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$147
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$277–$387
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 224.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $67 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 192.5 | 2 | $67.36 | $30.79 |
| Efficient EV | 160.4 | 1 | $56.13 | $25.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 256.6 | 3 | $89.81 | $41.06 |
Gas CO2
224 kg
EV CO2
75 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.
Destination
San Diego, CA
Afternoon in San Diego on Saturday
Local time
12:44 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.
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
24 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
12h 53m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Cabrillo National Monument
National Monument
In 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo climbed out of his boat and onto shore, becoming the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States. Cabrillo National Monument not only...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
$20
near mile 642.3
Park Closure: Park Auditorium Closed Until Further Notice
Devils Postpile National Monument
National Monument
Established in 1911 by presidential proclamation, Devils Postpile National Monument protects and preserves the Devils Postpile formation, the 101-foot high Rainbow Falls, and pristine mountain scenery...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 243.6
View on nps.gov
Yosemite National Park
National Park
Not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra. First protected in 1864, Yose...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
$35
near mile 221.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
641.5 mi / 12h 53m — a long-haul route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. Biggest road: US 395.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
54 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.1 mi on US 395.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
At 12h 53m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 131.9 miles in near US 395.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 641.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 131.9 miles (US 395): Lane positioning matters here; at 410.1 miles (US 395 / Blue Star Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 507.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Susanville, CA and San Diego, CA, road signs point toward Los Angeles and Indio.
Los Angeles
507.3 mi in
|
~10h 20m
Indio
543.6 mi in
|
~11h 1m
|
via I 215
About the Cities
Arriving 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?
Solo Traveler
12h 53m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 109.1 miles on US 395. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 321 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 route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at San Diego, 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 3 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 131.9 miles (US 395): Lane positioning matters here; at 410.1 miles (US 395 / Blue Star Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 507.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Cabrillo National Monument, Devils Postpile National Monument and Yosemite National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 12.9 hours each way, a round trip means 25.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at San Diego, CA before the return drive.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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