El Cajon, CA Road Trips
El Cajon, CA serves as a quiet starting point in the Pacific Coast, connecting drivers to 2 outbound routes across the area. The route mix is balanced, with options ranging from 65-mile quick runs to 467-mile cross-state drives. Most routes from El Cajon, CA head west, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
6
Longest Drive
511.3 mi
Sacramento, CA
Quickest Drive
1h 20m
San Onofre, CA
Plan Around El Cajon, CA
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if El Cajon, CA is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From El Cajon, CA
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from El Cajon, CA
Driving from El Cajon, CA
On average, trips departing from El Cajon, CA run 266 miles with a drive time of roughly 5h 6m. There is a healthy spread of short hops, medium drives, and longer road trips to pick from. The longest mapped route runs 467 miles (8h 53m), while the shortest is just 65 miles.
Popular Destinations
Top road trip destinations from El Cajon, CA are San Jose, CA (466.7 mi, 8h 53m) and San Onofre, CA (64.7 mi, 1h 20m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
For the average 266-mile drive from El Cajon, CA, expect to burn about 10.5 gallons of fuel one way at 25 MPG. Check local pump prices before you go to lock in your budget.
Most routes head west — leaving in the morning keeps the sun behind you for a more comfortable drive. Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 2 mapped routes leaving El Cajon, CA and 4 routes heading into El Cajon, CA, covering 6 total connections. Distances range from 65 to 467 miles.
The longest mapped route from El Cajon, CA covers 467 miles and takes approximately 8h 53m. Shorter options start at just 65 miles.
The average route from El Cajon, CA runs about 266 miles with a drive time of roughly 5h 6m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
The most popular road trip destinations from El Cajon, CA include San Jose, CA and San Onofre, CA. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
El Cajon, CA by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
104,909
Median Income
$66,478
Median Home Value
$632,800
Median Age
35.5
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Notable People from El Cajon, CA
A sampling of people born in El Cajon, CA.
Jimmie Johnson
1975
American racing driver
Glen Morgan
1961
American television producer, writer, and director (born 1961)
Joe Musgrove
1992
American professional baseball pitcher
Jason Russell
1978
American film director known for founding Invisible Children, Inc. and Kony 2012
A. J. Griffin
1988
American baseball player
Brian Giles
1971
American baseball player
Bret Boone
1969
American baseball player
Joe Cardona
1992
American football player (born 1992)
Greg Garcia
1989
American baseball player
City data from Wikidata (Q369947), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to El Cajon, CA
El Cajon is a city in San Diego County in Southern California. The city is nicknamed "The Big Box".
San Diego Air & Space Museum Gillespie Field Annex, 335 Kenney St, ☏ +1 619-258-1221. M W-Sa 8AM - 3PM. Aircraft museum and displays. Free (donations accepted). (updated Feb 2020)
Water Conservation Garden, 12122 Cuyamaca College Drive West, ☏ +1 619-660-0614 ext 10. Beautifully curated, features informative displays for children and adults Mother Goose Parade. (Annually on the Sunday before Thanksgiving). El Cajon's annual Mother Goose Parade is the largest parade in San Diego County and the largest of its type west of the Mississippi. Free. (updated Feb 2020) 1 The Magnolia, 210 East Main St, ☏ +1 619-651-2004. Concert venue. (updated Feb 2020)
Ali Baba Restaurant, 421 E Main St, ☏ +1 619-442-3622. Great Middle Eastern food at a great price, a good thing to get with groups is the feast Barbeque Pit, 2388 Fletcher Pkwy, San Diego, ☏ +1 619-462-5434. Beef 'N Bun Whistle Stop, 2477 Fletcher Pkwy, ☏ +1 619-465-0767.
Hooleys Irish Pub, 2955 Jamacha Rd, ☏ +1 619-670-7468. Press Box Sports Lounge, 2990 Jamacha Rd, ☏ +1 619-713-6990.
Best Western Santee Lodge, 10726 Woodside Avenue, Santee, ☏ +1 619-449-2626, fax: +1 619 449-0819. Days Inn by Wyndham San Diego-East/El Cajon, 683 N Mollison Ave, ☏ +1 619-442-0973. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Complimentary daily breakfast, free high-speed wireless Internet, swimming pool, hot tub, business center and conference facilities. Motel 6 San Diego - El Cajon, 550 Montrose Ct, ☏ +1 619-588-6100, fax: +1 619 588-1973. Travelodge, 425 W. Main St, ☏ +1 619-441-8250. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. 49.99+.
The local San Diego Trolley light rail system serves El Cajon with two lines: the Orange Line, which travels through La Mesa and Lemon Grove to Downtown San Diego, and the Green Line which heads past SDSU and through Mission Valley to San Diego's Old Town and Downtown. El Cajon has two stations, which are served by both lines: 1 El Cajon Transit Center (at Palm and Marshall Avenues). 2 Arnele Avenue station (at Arnele and Marshall Avenues). 3 Gillespie Field (SEE IATA). General aviation only
Travel tips adapted from El Cajon on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
Trips to El Cajon, CA
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