Origin
Susanville, CA
Late night in Susanville on Saturday
Local time
4:01 AM
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
11h 15m
Distance
642.3 mi
1,034 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$148
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
11h 6m
★
6 AM
11h 16m
8 AM
11h 36m
10 AM
11h 23m
12 PM
11h 21m
3 PM
11h 24m
5 PM
11h 35m
8 PM
11h 10m
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 642.3 miles and takes about 11h 15m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Main Street, Route 395, Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $147.63 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
321.1 miles from Susanville, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 37m into the drive .
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?
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 3 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
11h 15m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Long-distance drive route profile.
Drive Character
At 642.3 miles and 11h 15m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Main Street and Route 395.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 54 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Main Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 11h 15m, 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 (11h 15m) 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 Susanville, CA to San Diego, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Main Street | — | — |
| Route 395 | — | — |
| Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Highway | — | — |
| South Carson Street | — | — |
| Woodfords Road | — | — |
| County Road | — | — |
| Emigrant Street | — | — |
| Sinclair Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Susanville, CA and San Diego, CA.
1
Start on Foss Street
62 ft
·
5 sec
·
Foss Street
2
Turn right onto Main Street
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Main Street
3
Continue on Route 395
64 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
Route 395
4
Continue on Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Highway
51 mi
·
57 min
·
Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Highway
5
Turn left onto South Carson Street
11 mi
·
14 min
·
South Carson Street
6
Take the exit slight right
489 ft
·
13 sec
7
Turn straight onto Woodfords Road
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Woodfords Road
8
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward County Road
144 ft
·
2 sec
·
County Road
9
Exit the roundabout onto County Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road
10
At the end of the road, turn right
66 mi
·
1 hr 30 min
11
Turn left onto Emigrant Street
0.5 mi
·
42 sec
·
Emigrant Street
12
At the end of the road, turn right onto Sinclair Street
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Sinclair Street
13
Turn left onto Main Street
44 mi
·
53 min
·
Main Street
14
Continue straight
44 mi
·
50 min
15
Turn right onto North Barlow Lane
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Barlow Lane
16
Turn left onto West Line Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Line Street
17
Turn right onto South Main Street
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
18
Continue on El Camino Sierra
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
El Camino Sierra
19
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
20
Continue on North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
North Main Street
21
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
26 mi
·
31 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
22
Continue on North Edwards Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Edwards Street
23
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
24
Continue on North Main Street
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Main Street
25
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
56 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
26
Continue on Blue Star Memorial Highway
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
27
Keep slight left to continue on Blue Star Memorial Highway
30 mi
·
34 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
28
Continue on Red Mountain Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Red Mountain Road
29
Continue on Blue Star Memorial Highway
67 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
30
Take the exit straight toward I 15 South: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 15 South: San Bernardino, Los Angeles
31
Merge slight left onto Barstow and Mojave Freeway
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Barstow and Mojave Freeway
32
Continue on CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway
33
Continue on Barstow and Mojave Freeway
6.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Barstow and Mojave Freeway
34
Continue on Barstow Freeway
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
Barstow Freeway
35
Keep slight left to continue on Barstow Freeway
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Barstow Freeway
36
Continue on San Bernardino Freeway
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
37
Continue on Riverside Freeway
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Riverside Freeway
38
Take the exit slight right toward I 215 South, CA 60 East: San Diego, Indio
5.1 mi
·
5 min
·
I 215 South, CA 60 East: San Diego, Indio
39
Keep slight right to continue on I 215, CA 60 Truck
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 215, CA 60 Truck
40
Keep slight right
36 mi
·
41 min
41
Continue on Avocado Highway
22 mi
·
23 min
·
Avocado Highway
42
Continue on Escondido Freeway
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Escondido Freeway
43
Keep slight right to continue on Escondido Freeway
8.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Escondido Freeway
44
Continue on Tony Gwynn Memorial Freeway
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Tony Gwynn Memorial Freeway
45
Continue on Escondido Freeway
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Escondido Freeway
46
Continue on Semper Fi Highway
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Semper Fi Highway
47
Take the exit slight right toward CA 163 South
0.7 mi
·
52 sec
·
CA 163 South
48
Continue on Cabrillo Freeway
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Cabrillo Freeway
49
Continue on Cabrillo Parkway
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Cabrillo Parkway
50
Continue on Cabrillo Parkway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Cabrillo Parkway
51
Continue on 10th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
10th Avenue
52
Turn right onto Broadway
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway
53
Turn left onto Front Street
26 ft
·
1 sec
·
Front Street
54
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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 321.1 miles from Susanville, CA, or about 5h 37m 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 141 miles or 2h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 321.1 miles or 5h 37m 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 321.1 miles or 5h 37m
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 10h 12m
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 5.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into San Diego, CA
Aim for roughly 321 miles and 5.6 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 321.1 mi from Susanville, CA · 5h 37m into the drive
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
424 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 5.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near South Lake Tahoe, CA after about 321 miles or 5.6 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 321.1 miles from Susanville, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 321 miles or 5.6 hours on the road.
Final-third reset
Rest stopPlan one more short stretch-and-water break in the final third of the drive so the last arrival window feels easier.
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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around San Diego, CA.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach San Diego, 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
$147.63 one way
$295.26 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
225 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $152.13 | $304.26 |
| premium | $6.18 | $156.20 | $312.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $141.81 | $283.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$148
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$278–$388
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 224.7 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 | 192.7 | 2 | $67.44 | $30.83 |
| Efficient EV | 160.6 | 1 | $56.20 | $25.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 256.9 | 3 | $89.92 | $41.11 |
Gas CO2
225 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
Late night in San Diego on Saturday
Local time
4:01 AM
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
11h 15m 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 Susanville, CA to San Diego, CA covers 642.3 miles and takes about 11h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Main Street, Route 395, Martin Luther King Junior Memorial Highway. 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 321 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 321.1 miles from Susanville, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $147.63 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 3 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 (11h 15m) 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 Susanville, CA to San Diego, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Susanville, 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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