This straightforward 13.3-mile drive from Chula Vista to Grossmont in California is easily manageable in just 18 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. Primarily utilizing CA 125 and the South Bay Freeway, this route offers a quick connection within the Pacific Coast region. With an estimated fuel cost of just $3, it's an economical option for local travel. There are no recommended overnight stops, and the drive is focused on efficient transit rather than extended sightseeing. You'll find this journey is best suited for getting from point A to point B without much fuss.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
CA 125
5.6 mi
6m
South Bay Freeway
5.3 mi
5m
4th Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
Grossmont Boulevard
0.9 mi
2m
Grossmont Summit Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
Highland Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
F Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Shadow Road
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
CA 125
— 5.6 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chula Vista, CA and Grossmont, CA.
1
Start on F Street
52 ft·3 sec·F Street
2
Turn left onto 4th Avenue
0.9 mi·1 min·4th Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on Highland Avenue
478 ft·10 sec·Highland Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward CA 54 EastUse the right lane.
5
Merge onto CA 54
5.3 mi·5 min·South Bay Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on CA 125
3.3 mi·3 min·CA 125
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 125
2.3 mi·3 min·CA 125
Toward CA 125 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 18AToward Grossmont BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn right onto Grossmont Boulevard
0.9 mi·2 min·Grossmont Boulevard
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto Grossmont Summit Drive
0.1 mi·28 sec·Grossmont Summit Drive
11
Arrive at destination
Shadow Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 12.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward CA 54 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward CA 54 East
5
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|CA 54 / South Bay Freeway
Merge onto CA 54 / South Bay Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
9.8 mi into trip|~11m in|CA 125
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 125 toward CA 125 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 125 North
7
12.1 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the exit toward Grossmont Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18A
Toward Grossmont Boulevard
6
12.3 mi into trip|~15m in|Grossmont Boulevard
Turn right onto Grossmont Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.22 one way
$6.44 round trip
$6.15/gal25.4 MPG avg5 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.34
$3.32
$6.64
premium
$6.50
$3.40
$6.80
diesel
$6.18
$3.24
$6.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging
· 0 stops
· 60% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
4
0
$1.40
$0.64
Efficient EV
3.3
0
$1.16
$0.53
EV Truck/SUV
5.3
0
$1.86
$0.85
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Chula Vista, CA
Evening
in Chula Vista on Tuesday
Local time
8:29 PM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Patchy Fog
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 19 at 1:23AM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 12:31PM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Grossmont, CA
Evening
in Grossmont on Tuesday
Local time
8:29 PM
PDT
Current temp
63°F
Patchy Fog
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 19 at 1:23AM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 12:31PM PDT until October 20 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
18m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for 82% of this 13.3-mile journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 5.6 miles on CA 125, offering a consistent pace. You'll primarily be on the South Bay Freeway and then transition to 4th Avenue, experiencing a blend of freeway speeds and potentially some local road conditions as you approach your destination. This route prioritizes getting you there efficiently, with minimal deviations or complex road changes.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.6 mi on CA 125.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 125 and South Bay Freeway. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 13.3 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (CA 54 / South Bay Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.8 miles (CA 125): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
672 ft20 ft
Total Climb
706 ft
Total Descent
99 ft
Highest Point
672 ft
~13.3 mi in
Elevation Range
652 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Chula Vista is a large city in San Diego County in Southern California. It was a farming and dairy city in the early 20th century. By the early 21st century the city had grown tremendously with the addition of several prominent suburbs and business districts.
=== Understand ===
Chula Vista Convention & Visitors Bureau website
Top landmarks
•Living Coast Discovery Center — nature center, aquarium and zoo in Chula Vista, California
Doable as a same-day drive at 18m. Total distance: 13.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.6 miles on CA 125. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Grossmont, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.2 miles (CA 54 / South Bay Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.8 miles (CA 125): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cabrillo National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Grossmont, CA before heading back.
