Origin
San Diego, CA
Evening in San Diego on Friday
Local time
7:49 PM
PDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Diego, CA to Bishop, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 57m
Distance
353.5 mi
569 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$78
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 46m
★
6 AM
6h 58m
8 AM
7h 20m
10 AM
7h 6m
12 PM
7h 3m
3 PM
7h 7m
5 PM
7h 19m
8 PM
6h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Diego, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Bishop, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from San Diego, CA to Bishop, CA covers 353.5 miles and takes about 6h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Grand Army of the Republic Highway, Blue Star Memorial Highway, Escondido Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 104.5 miles on Grand Army of the Republic Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $78.37 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
176.7 miles from San Diego, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 24m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Army of the Republic Highway | 104.5 mi | 2h 2m |
| Blue Star Memorial Highway | 103.3 mi | 2h 3m |
| Escondido Freeway | 56.6 mi | 1h 4m |
| Avocado Highway | 21.9 mi | 23m |
| Barstow and Mojave Freeway | 9.7 mi | 10m |
| Barstow Freeway | 8.9 mi | 9m |
| Cabrillo Freeway | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| San Bernardino Freeway | 5.5 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
— 104.5 mi, about 2h 2m
Traffic on I-15
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 90 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~6,884 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~823 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 91 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego, CA and Bishop, CA.
1
Start on Front Street
26 ft
·
6 sec
·
Front Street
2
Turn left onto West Broadway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Broadway
3
Turn left onto 11th Avenue
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
11th Avenue
4
Continue on CA 163
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Cabrillo Parkway
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on CA 163
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Cabrillo Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
7
Continue on I 15
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Semper Fi Highway
Use the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 15
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Escondido Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 15
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Tony Gwynn Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 15
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Escondido Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 15
6.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Escondido Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 15
22 mi
·
23 min
·
Avocado Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 15
6.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Escondido Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 63
Toward I 215
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 215
34 mi
·
40 min
·
Escondido Freeway
Toward I 215
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 215
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
I 215
Toward I 215 North: San Bernardino, Barstow
Use the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 215
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 215
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
San Bernardino Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 215
8.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Barstow Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
21
Continue on I 15
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 15; US 66 Hist; US 91 Hist; US 395 Hist
5.4 mi
·
5 min
·
CHP Officer Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 15; US 66 Hist
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Barstow and Mojave Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 141
Toward US 395 North: Adelanto, Bishop
25
Continue on this road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Exit 141
Toward US 395 North: Adelanto, Bishop
26
Continue on US 395
67 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Continue on US 395
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Red Mountain Road
28
Continue on US 395
37 mi
·
42 min
·
Blue Star Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
29
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
56 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
30
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
South Main Street
31
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
32
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Edwards Street
33
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
26 mi
·
31 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
34
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
North Main Street
35
Continue on US 395; US 6 Hist
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
36
Continue on US 395; CA 168; US 6 Hist
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
El Camino Sierra
Use the straight lane.
37
Continue on US 395; CA 168; US 6 Hist
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
38
Turn right onto May Street
54 ft
·
2 sec
·
May Street
39
Arrive at destination
May Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 176.7 miles from San Diego, CA, or about 3h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.5 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 78 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 176.7 miles or 3h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bishop, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving San Diego, 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 San Diego, CA
This is one driving day of about 353.5 miles and 6h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from San Diego, 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 Grand Army of the Republic Highway for about 104.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
177 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 78 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 176.7 miles from San Diego, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Grand Army of the Republic Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 104.5 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 27.3 and 132.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
27.3 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
I 15 / Escondido Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 15 / Escondido Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
62.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward I 215
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 63
Toward I 215
8
97.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
|
I 215
Keep slight right at fork onto I 215 toward I 215 North: San Bernardino, Barstow
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 215 North: San Bernardino, Barstow
5
97.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 51m in
|
I 215 / Riverside Freeway
Merge onto I 215 / Riverside Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
132.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 30m in
Take the exit toward US 395 North: Adelanto, Bishop
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 141
Toward US 395 North: Adelanto, Bishop
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$78.37 one way
$156.74 round trip
$5.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
124 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.81 | $80.87 | $161.75 |
| premium | $5.98 | $83.27 | $166.53 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $77.92 | $155.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$78
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$103–$128
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 106.1 | 1 | $37.12 | $16.97 |
| Efficient EV | 88.4 | 1 | $30.93 | $14.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 141.4 | 1 | $49.49 | $22.62 |
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Bishop, CA
Evening in Bishop on Friday
Local time
7:49 PM
PDT
Current temp
61°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
17 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
6h 57m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
353.5 mi in 6h 57m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 104.5 mi on Grand Army of the Republic Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 27.3 miles in near I 15 / Escondido Freeway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 353.5 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 27.3 miles (I 15 / Escondido Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 97.1 miles (I 215): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
High-altitude sections with notable climbs
4,145 ft
39 ft
Total Climb
6,731 ft
Total Descent
2,625 ft
Highest Point
4,145 ft
~353.5 mi in
Elevation Range
4,106 ft
Notable High Points
3,491 ft at ~126.2 miles
+812 ft prominence
3,554 ft at ~202 miles
+1,091 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from San Diego, CA to Bishop, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Barstow along the way.
Barstow
97.1 mi in
|
~1h 50m
|
via I 215
About the Cities
Starting 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
Arriving in Bishop, CA
Full guide →Founded 1861
Bishop is the largest city in the Eastern Sierra region of California, offering the largest selection of accommodation and services.
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 6h 57m. Total distance: 353.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 57m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 104.5 miles on Grand Army of the Republic Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Bishop, 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 27.3 miles (I 15 / Escondido Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 97.1 miles (I 215): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Cabrillo National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.0 hours each way, a round trip means 13.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bishop, CA before the return drive.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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