Origin
Marina del Rey, CA
Late night in Marina del Rey on Tuesday
Local time
5:52 AM
PDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Marina del Rey, CA to San Diego, 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 38m
Distance
130.7 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 28m
★
6 AM
2h 38m
8 AM
2h 59m
10 AM
2h 45m
12 PM
2h 43m
3 PM
2h 46m
5 PM
2h 58m
8 PM
2h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Marina del Rey, CA
Wikimedia Commons
San Diego, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 130.7-mile drive from Marina del Rey, CA to San Diego, CA is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in a single day. Expect the trip to take about 2 hours and 38 minutes, with the majority of your travel on the San Diego Freeway and I-405. With an estimated fuel cost of $30, it's an economical option for a quick coastal hop. The route stays within California and remains on the Pacific Coast, offering a familiar landscape. This drive is ideal for a day trip, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.
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
65.4 miles from Marina del Rey, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Freeway | 96.4 mi | 1h 52m |
| San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor | 12.8 mi | 14m |
| I 405 | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| Corona Del Mar Freeway | 4 mi | 4m |
| Marina Freeway | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| Washington Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Front Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Lincoln Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
San Diego Freeway
— 96.4 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marina del Rey, CA and San Diego, CA.
1
Start on this road
204 ft
·
14 sec
·
this road
2
Continue on Panay Way
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Panay Way
3
Turn right onto Via Marina
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Via Marina
4
Turn right onto Washington Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Washington Boulevard
Use the right lane.
5
Turn right onto CA 1
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
Lincoln Boulevard
6
Turn left onto CA 90
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Marina Expressway
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on CA 90
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Marina Freeway
Toward CA 90 East
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Sacramento, Long Beach
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 405 South: Long Beach
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 405
26 mi
·
30 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 405
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 405
10 mi
·
11 min
·
I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
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.
15
Continue on CA 73
10 mi
·
11 min
·
San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
437 ft
·
5 sec
Exit 3
Toward La Paz Road, Moulton Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
Toward CA 73 South: Moulton Parkway
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
Toward CA 73 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto CA 73 Toll
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
20
Merge onto I 5
68 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 17
Toward Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward Front Street, Civic Center
23
Continue on Front Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Front Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
24
Arrive at destination
Front Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 38-minute estimated drive time, starting your journey in the morning is advisable to avoid potential afternoon traffic. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to make it a direct trip or build in a brief break. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 96.4-mile stretch on the San Diego Freeway, as services might be less frequent. Planning your departure time can significantly impact your travel experience on these busy Southern California freeways.
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 65.4 miles from Marina del Rey, CA, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 96.4 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 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.4 miles or 1h 20m 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 9m
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 Marina del Rey, 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 Marina del Rey, CA
This is one driving day of about 130.7 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Marina del Rey, 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 96.4 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 65.4 miles from Marina del Rey, 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 96.4 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 195 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 129.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4.5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Sacramento, Long Beach
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.
Toward I 405 North, I 405 South: Sacramento, Lo...
7
4.7 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 405 South: Long Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 405 South: Long Beach
8
44.2 mi into trip
|
~55m 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
58.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m 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
129.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 35m in
Take the exit toward Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd 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 17
Toward Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.04 one way
$60.08 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $30.96 | $61.91 |
| premium | $6.18 | $31.78 | $63.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.86 | $57.71 |
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: 45.7 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 | 39.2 | 0 | $13.72 | $6.27 |
| Efficient EV | 32.7 | 0 | $11.44 | $5.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.3 | 0 | $18.30 | $8.36 |
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
San Diego, CA
Late night in San Diego on Tuesday
Local time
5:52 AM
PDT
Current temp
58°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
13 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 38m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Cabrillo National Monument
National Monument
In 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo climbed out of his boat and onto shore, becoming the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States. Cabrillo National Monument not only...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
$20
near mile 130.7
Park Closure: Park Auditorium Closed Until Further Notice
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a predominately highway experience, with 87% of the drive utilizing major freeways. You'll encounter stretches on the San Diego Freeway, San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor, and I-405, making for a fast-paced journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll navigate is 96.4 miles, primarily on the San Diego Freeway. This highway-focused profile means you'll spend most of your time in transit, with minimal time on slower, local roads.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 96.4 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 San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in.
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 19 significant decision points across 130.7 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 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.2 miles (CA 73 / Corona Del Mar Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 38m. Total distance: 130.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 96.4 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 San Diego, 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 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 44.2 miles (CA 73 / Corona Del Mar Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cabrillo National Monument and Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. 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 San Diego, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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