San Diego to Kelseyville is 586.9 miles and takes about 11 hours 18 minutes via I-5, with a fuel budget near $140 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a long-haul drive that spans across California, starting in the Pacific Coast region and ending in the same region. Most of the route is on major freeways, making it a straightforward trip for those looking to cover a lot of ground efficiently. Consider this an overnight trip to make the most of your time and avoid an excessively long driving day.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
293.5 miles from San Diego, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
225.6 mi
4h 1m
San Diego Freeway
75.2 mi
1h 27m
Golden State Freeway
50 mi
57m
I 5 Truck
45.3 mi
52m
Santa Ana Freeway
30.4 mi
35m
Saint Helena Highway
28.6 mi
33m
Main Street
22.9 mi
33m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
19.6 mi
22m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 225.6 mi, about 4h 1m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 230 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~3,763 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,643
Quietest
2 AM
~637 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 44 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 Kelseyville, 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 AngelesUse 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 ParkwayUse 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 100Toward Jamboree RoadUse 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 161AToward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 TruckUse 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 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi·17 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco
28
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass
1.1 mi·1 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
29
Merge onto I 580
18 mi·20 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
1.6 mi·1 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
31
Take the exit
0.2 mi·16 sec
Exit 44BToward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut CreekUse the slight right lane.
32
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·30 sec
Toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, SacramentoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Merge onto I 680
15 mi·17 min·Donald D Doyle Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Continue on I 680
5.0 mi·5 min·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Toward I 680, CA 24Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680
6.0 mi·6 min·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Toward I 680 North: Martinez, SacramentoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680
243 ft·3 sec·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
37
Keep slight right at fork onto I 680
1.8 mi·2 min·Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Use the slight right lane.
38
Keep slight left at fork onto I 780
6.7 mi·7 min·I 780
Toward I 780: BeniciaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: SacramentoUse the slight right lane.
40
Keep slight left at fork
448 ft·11 sec
Toward I 80 East: SacramentoUse the slight left lane.
41
Merge onto I 80
2.7 mi·3 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Exit 33Toward CA 37: Napa, Novato, Auto Mall, Columbus ParkwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward CA 37: NapaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Continue on CA 37
1.5 mi·1 min·CA 37
Toward CA 37Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Exit 19Toward CA 29: Napa, Sonoma BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Turn right onto CA 29
1.6 mi·1 min·Sonoma Boulevard
Use the right lane.
47
Continue on CA 29
4.0 mi·4 min·Broadway Street
Use the straight lane.
48
Continue on CA 29
1.3 mi·1 min·Napa–Vallejo Highway
Use the left lane.
49
Continue on CA 12; CA 29
22 mi·25 min·Saint Helena Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
50
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
2.4 mi·2 min·Main Street
51
Continue on CA 29; CA 128
6.8 mi·7 min·Saint Helena Highway
52
Turn right onto CA 29
1.0 mi·1 min·Lincoln Avenue
53
Continue on CA 29
16 mi·24 min·Lake County Highway
54
Turn left onto CA 175
20 mi·29 min·Main Street
55
Turn left onto CA 29; CA 175
3.6 mi·5 min·CA 29; CA 175
56
Turn right onto Main Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
57
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 11-hour 18-minute duration, it's best to break this trip into two days. Departing early from San Diego will allow you to reach a good stopping point around the halfway mark. Plan for about three stops along the way, ensuring you have adequate time to rest and refuel. The estimated fuel cost of $140 should cover your needs for the 586.9 miles, but always check current prices. A practical tip is to aim for a lodging location north of Bakersfield to make the second day's drive more manageable.
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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 293.5 miles from San Diego, CA, or about 5h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 225.6 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 129 miles or 2h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 293.5 miles or 5h 35m 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 293.5 miles or 5h 35m
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 9h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kelseyville, 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 293 miles and 5.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Kelseyville, CA
Aim for roughly 293 miles and 5.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 129 miles from San Diego, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 225.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 47
5 decision points cluster between mile 144.7 and 502.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
466.8 mi into trip|~8h 43m in
Take the exit toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek
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 44B
Toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacr...
9
466.9 mi into trip|~8h 43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacr...
8
487.4 mi into trip|~9h 7m in|I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento
8
502.3 mi into trip|~9h 24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 80 East: Sacramento
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$137.83 one way
$275.66 round trip
$5.97/gal25.4 MPG avg205 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.18
$142.84
$285.69
premium
$6.30
$145.50
$291.00
diesel
$5.35
$123.62
$247.24
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$138
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$268–$378
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 205.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $62 in charging
· 2 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
176.1
2
$61.62
$28.17
Efficient EV
146.7
1
$51.35
$23.48
EV Truck/SUV
234.8
2
$82.17
$37.56
Gas CO2
205 kg
EV CO2
69 kg (66% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Forecast as of Jun 2, 2026
Origin
San Diego, CA
Afternoon
in San Diego on Wednesday
Local time
12:02 PM
PDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 1 at 2:35PM PDT until June 2 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS San Francisco CA
Destination
Kelseyville, CA
Afternoon
in Kelseyville on Wednesday
Local time
12:02 PM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Clear
SW 0 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 1 at 2:35PM PDT until June 2 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS San Francisco CA
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
5 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
11h 18m 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: Cabrillo Will Be Open From 1pm-5pm on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026
Park Closure: Park Auditorium Closed Until Further Notice
On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 485.7
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...
16 mi from route
~41 min detour
Free
near mile 485.7
Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 485.7
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 141.7
Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly freeway cruising, with 81% of the 586.9 miles on major highways like the Westside Freeway. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 225.6 miles on the Westside Freeway, so be prepared for extended periods of high-speed travel. Expect dense urban merging as you pass through the Los Angeles metropolitan area, transitioning to more open freeway driving as you head north.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
57 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 225.6 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 144.7 miles in near I 5 Truck.
Driving Effort10/10
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 47 significant decision points across 586.9 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 144.7 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 466.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 466.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,689 ft37 ft
Total Climb
4,333 ft
Total Descent
2,989 ft
Highest Point
2,689 ft
~167.7 mi in
Elevation Range
2,653 ft
Notable High Points
2,689 ft at ~167.7 miles+2,208 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between San Diego, CA and Kelseyville, CA, road signs point toward San Francisco, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek, Novato and Auto Mall.
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
The longest stretch is about 225.6 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 293 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 42 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Kelseyville, 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 3 meaningful breaks. There are 42 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 144.7 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 466.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 466.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Cabrillo National Monument, Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial and Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 11.3 hours each way, a round trip means 22.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Kelseyville, CA before the return drive.
