Origin
Inglewood, CA
Morning in Inglewood on Tuesday
Local time
8:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Inglewood, CA to Chula Vista, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 36m
Distance
130.2 mi
210 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 26m
★
6 AM
2h 37m
8 AM
2h 58m
10 AM
2h 44m
12 PM
2h 42m
3 PM
2h 45m
5 PM
2h 57m
8 PM
2h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Inglewood, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Chula Vista, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Inglewood to Chula Vista is 130.2 miles and takes about 2h 36m via San Diego Freeway, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you within the Pacific Coast region, primarily on major freeways that connect Southern California's urban centers. It's a straightforward trip for a single day, ideal if you're looking for efficient travel between two points in California. Expect a consistent driving experience with minimal complexity, suitable for a quick transit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
65.1 miles from Inglewood, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Freeway | 74.4 mi | 1h 27m |
| Jacob Dekema Freeway | 18.6 mi | 21m |
| San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor | 12.8 mi | 14m |
| I 405 | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| Hawthorne Boulevard | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| Corona Del Mar Freeway | 4 mi | 4m |
| South La Brea Avenue | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| 4th Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
San Diego Freeway
— 74.4 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Inglewood, CA and Chula Vista, CA.
1
Start on East Manchester Boulevard
64 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Manchester Boulevard
2
Turn left onto South La Brea Avenue
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
South La Brea Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto South La Brea Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South La Brea Avenue
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on Hawthorne Boulevard
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Hawthorne Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 405 South: Long Beach
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 405
18 mi
·
21 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 405
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 405
10 mi
·
11 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 73
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Corona Del Mar Freeway
Exit 10
Toward CA 73 South: San Diego
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on CA 73
10 mi
·
11 min
·
San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
437 ft
·
5 sec
Exit 3
Toward La Paz Road, Moulton Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
Toward CA 73 South: Moulton Parkway
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
Toward CA 73 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto CA 73 Toll
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
16
Merge onto I 5
54 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 31
18
Continue on I 805
19 mi
·
21 min
·
Jacob Dekema Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 9
Toward CA 54 East, CA 54 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward CA 54 West
Use the slight right lane.
21
Merge onto CA 54
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
South Bay Freeway
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 1D
Toward Highland Avenue, 4th Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn left onto Highland Avenue
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Highland Avenue
Use the left lane.
24
Continue on 4th Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
4th Avenue
25
Turn right onto F Street
322 ft
·
33 sec
·
F Street
26
Continue on F Street
272 ft
·
5 sec
·
F Street
27
Arrive at destination
F Street
Trip Plan
For this 130.2-mile drive, leaving Inglewood in the morning or early afternoon should allow you to avoid the heaviest traffic. Since the total travel time is under 3 hours, you likely won't need more than one planned stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; the estimated cost is around $30, but it's always wise to top off before departing. The longest continuous stretch on a freeway is 74.4 miles, so plan for a restroom break before or after that segment if needed.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.1 miles from Inglewood, CA, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 29 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.1 miles or 1h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chula Vista, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Inglewood, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Inglewood, CA
This is one driving day of about 130.2 miles and 2h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Inglewood, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on San Diego Freeway for about 74.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 65.1 miles from Inglewood, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before San Diego Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 74.4 miles.
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 215 decision points cluster between mile 36.5 and 128.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
36.5 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
CA 73 / Corona Del Mar Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 73 / Corona Del Mar Freeway toward CA 73 South: San Diego
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10
Toward CA 73 South: San Diego
8
50.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward La Paz Road, Moulton Parkway
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.
Exit 3
Toward La Paz Road, Moulton Parkway
8
127.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 31m in
Take the exit toward CA 54 East, CA 54 West
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.
Exit 9
Toward CA 54 East, CA 54 West
8
127.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CA 54 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward CA 54 West
8
128.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 33m in
Take the exit toward Highland Avenue, 4th Avenue
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.
Exit 1D
Toward Highland Avenue, 4th Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.93 one way
$59.85 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $30.84 | $61.68 |
| premium | $6.18 | $31.66 | $63.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.75 | $57.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.1 | 0 | $13.67 | $6.25 |
| Efficient EV | 32.6 | 0 | $11.39 | $5.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.1 | 0 | $18.23 | $8.33 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Chula Vista, CA
Morning in Chula Vista on Tuesday
Local time
8:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
57°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.
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
10 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
2h 36m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with 83% of the 130.2 miles on freeways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 74.4 miles on the San Diego Freeway before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a lot of on- and off-ramps within the urban areas, especially as you approach your destination. The majority of your time will be spent cruising on the Jacob Dekema Freeway and San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 74.4 mi on San Diego Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Diego Freeway and Jacob Dekema Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 36.5 miles in near CA 73 / Corona Del Mar Freeway.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 130.2 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 36.5 miles (CA 73 / Corona Del Mar Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 127.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Inglewood, CA
Full guide →Founded 1888
Inglewood is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California. Sandwiched between South Los Angeles and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), it is a somewhat impoverished area. Though there isn't much for a tourist to see other than sporting events, there are some excellent eats here and a number of chain motels taking advantage of the city's proximity to LAX. Inglewood is the location of the SoFi Stadium (football, World Cup, Olympics), Intuit Dome (basketball, Olympics) and Kia Forum (concerts).
Top landmarks
- • Kia Forum — multi-purpose indoor arena in Inglewood, California, United States
Arriving in Chula Vista, CA
Full guide →Founded 1911
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 36m. Total distance: 130.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 74.4 miles on San Diego Freeway. 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 Chula Vista, 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 36.5 miles (CA 73 / Corona Del Mar Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 127.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Chula Vista, CA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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