Origin
San Diego, CA
Night in San Diego on Saturday
Local time
9:36 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from San Diego, CA to Florin, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 23m
Distance
498.6 mi
802 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$115
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 15m
★
6 AM
9h 23m
8 AM
9h 40m
10 AM
9h 29m
12 PM
9h 27m
3 PM
9h 30m
5 PM
9h 39m
8 PM
9h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Diego, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Florin, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
San Diego to Florin is 498.6 miles and takes about 9h 23m via Westside Freeway, with a fuel budget near $115 and enough daylight to finish in a day, though an overnight is recommended. This drive primarily stays within California, covering a significant portion of the state from the Pacific Coast region towards the inland valleys. It's a highway-focused journey, making it efficient for covering ground quickly. Given the nearly 10-hour duration, planning for at least one overnight stop is advisable to avoid fatigue and make the most of the drive.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
249.3 miles from San Diego, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 48m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 251.1 mi | 4h 29m |
| San Diego Freeway | 75.2 mi | 1h 27m |
| Golden State Freeway | 50 mi | 57m |
| I 5 Truck | 45.3 mi | 52m |
| CA 99 | 35.6 mi | 41m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 30.4 mi | 35m |
| Power Inn Road | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Crosstown Freeway | 2.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 251.1 mi, about 4h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego, CA and Florin, CA.
1
Start on Front Street
26 ft
·
6 sec
·
Front Street
2
Turn left onto West Broadway
290 ft
·
12 sec
·
West Broadway
3
Turn left onto 1st Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Merge onto I 5
13 mi
·
15 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
36 mi
·
43 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
18 mi
·
20 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Toward Bake Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 100
Toward Jamboree Road
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on this road
527 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
13
Turn right onto Jamboree Road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Jamboree Road
Use the left / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto El Camino Real
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
El Camino Real
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto Newport Avenue
357 ft
·
13 sec
·
Newport Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
17
Merge onto I 5
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
9.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
25 mi
·
29 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi
·
41 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
226 mi
·
4 hr 1 min
·
Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
26 mi
·
27 min
·
Westside Freeway
28
Take the exit onto CA 4
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
CA 4
Toward CA 4 East: Downtown Stockton
29
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 4
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
CA 4
30
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 4
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
CA 4
31
Merge onto CA 4
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Crosstown Freeway
32
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 99 North
33
Merge onto CA 99
36 mi
·
41 min
·
CA 99
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 289
Toward Cosumnes River Boulevard, Calvine Road
Use the slight right lane.
35
Turn right onto Calvine Road
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Calvine Road
Use the right lane.
36
Turn left onto Power Inn Road
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Power Inn Road
Use the left lane.
37
Turn right onto Florin Road
33 ft
·
0 sec
·
Florin Road
Use the right lane.
38
Arrive at destination
Florin Road
Trip Plan
With a total drive time of over 9 hours, splitting this trip over two days is highly recommended. Aim to depart early in the morning on your first day to maximize daylight. You'll want to make about two planned stops for fuel and rest, especially considering the longest stretch without a break is over 250 miles. Keep an eye on fuel levels as you approach the 251.1-mile mark on the Westside Freeway, as services can sometimes be more spread out on these longer highway segments.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 249.3 miles from San Diego, CA, or about 4h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 251.1 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 110 miles or 2h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 249.3 miles or 4h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 249.3 miles or 4h 48m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Florin, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from San Diego, CA
Aim for roughly 249 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Florin, CA
Aim for roughly 249 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 110 miles from San Diego, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 251.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
249 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Santa Clarita, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
249 mi · about 4.7h in
A practical overnight split lands near Santa Clarita, CA after about 249 miles or 4.7 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 110 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 249.3 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 Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 251.1 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 249 miles or 4.7 hours on the road.
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 355 decision points cluster between mile 76.1 and 495.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
76.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
|
I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward Bake Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Bake Parkway
7
83.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward Jamboree Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 100
Toward Jamboree Road
7
84 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
|
Jamboree Road
Turn right onto Jamboree Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
9
144.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 52m in
|
I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
8
495.3 mi into trip
|
~9h 17m in
Take the exit toward Cosumnes River Boulevard, Calvine Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 289
Toward Cosumnes River Boulevard, Calvine Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$114.60 one way
$229.20 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
175 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $118.09 | $236.19 |
| premium | $6.18 | $121.25 | $242.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $110.08 | $220.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$115
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$245–$355
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 174.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $52 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 149.6 | 1 | $52.35 | $23.93 |
| Efficient EV | 124.7 | 1 | $43.63 | $19.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 199.4 | 2 | $69.80 | $31.91 |
Gas CO2
174 kg
EV CO2
58 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
Florin, CA
Night in Florin on Saturday
Local time
9:36 PM
PDT
Current temp
48°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
8 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
9h 23m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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
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...
23 mi from route
~57 min detour
Free
near mile 137.5
View on nps.gov
César E. Chávez National Monument
National Monument
Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 206.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 98% of the route utilizing major freeways like the Westside Freeway and San Diego Freeway. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, with the longest uninterrupted segment measuring 251.1 miles on the Westside Freeway. Expect a predominantly interstate feel, characterized by smooth pavement and multiple lanes. While the landscape will change as you travel north, the primary experience is one of covering distance efficiently on well-maintained, high-speed roadways.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 251.1 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and San Diego Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 76.1 miles in near I 5 Truck.
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 35 significant decision points across 498.6 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 76.1 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 84 miles (Jamboree Road): Lane positioning matters here.
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 251.1 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 249 miles on day one.
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 Florin, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 76.1 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 84 miles (Jamboree Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cabrillo National Monument, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and César E. Chávez National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.4 hours each way, a round trip means 18.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Florin, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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