Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
21m
Distance
13.8 mi
22 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Coronado, CA
Wikimedia Commons
La Mesa, CA
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking for a quick transition from the coast to the inland suburbs, this 13.8-mile trip from Coronado to La Mesa is an efficient connection. Expect to spend about 21 minutes behind the wheel, making this a straightforward day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate a path through the Pacific Coast region using the San Diego–Coronado Bridge, the Martin Luther King Junior Freeway, and University Avenue. With a modest estimated fuel cost of just $3, this route is highly economical for travelers. It functions best as a direct transit rather than a multi-stop excursion, as the journey is designed for speed and convenience.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Martin Luther King Junior Freeway | 6.7 mi | 7m |
| San Diego–Coronado Bridge | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| University Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Massachusetts Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 4th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Orange Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Allison Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 19th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Coronado, CA and La Mesa, CA.
Start on Encino Lane
Turn left onto E Avenue
Turn right onto 10th Street
Turn left onto CA 75
Turn right onto CA 75
Continue on CA 75
Take the exit
Merge onto I 5
Take the exit
Continue on 19th Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto CA 94
Take the exit
Turn right onto Massachusetts Avenue
Turn right onto University Avenue
Turn right onto Allison Avenue
Turn left onto Spring Street
Turn left onto University Avenue
Turn right
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 13.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto CA 75 / 4th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CA 94 East: J Street, Martin Luther king Junior Freeway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Massachusetts Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Massachusetts Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Spring Street
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$3.17 one way
$6.34 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $3.27 | $6.54 |
| premium | $6.18 | $3.36 | $6.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.05 | $6.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.45 | $0.66 |
| Efficient EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.21 | $0.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.93 | $0.88 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Coronado on Tuesday
Local time
3:12 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Rain Showers Likely
Destination
Late night in La Mesa on Tuesday
Local time
3:12 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a mixed driving profile that transitions from iconic bridge crossings to suburban arterial roads. About 50% of your travel time will be spent on the highway, providing a balanced experience between open flow and local traffic. You will tackle your longest uninterrupted stretch along a 6.7-mile segment of the Martin Luther King Junior Freeway, which serves as the backbone of your journey. As you move away from the coast, the character of the road shifts from high-speed corridors to the more controlled pace of University Avenue. The drive is functional and predictable, offering a steady rhythm as you navigate through the San Diego area.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near CA 75 / 4th Street.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 13.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 21m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (CA 75 / 4th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
549 ft
Total Descent
85 ft
Highest Point
529 ft
~13.8 mi in
Elevation Range
463 ft
Coronado is a picturesque resort town in San Diego County in Southern California. It is on a peninsula just across the San Diego Bay from Downtown San Diego and offers quiet beaches, lovely bay scenery, and sights such as the historic Hotel del Coronado.
Top landmarks
La Mesa is a city in San Diego County in Southern California.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 21m. Total distance: 13.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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