San Diego to Westwood is 132.3 miles and takes about 2h 37m via San Diego Freeway, I 405, and San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within California, moving north from the Pacific Coast region towards another Pacific Coast destination. It's a straightforward, single-day trip that's mostly freeway driving, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently. You can expect a relatively predictable journey with minimal need for extensive planning beyond the basics.
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
66.1 miles from San Diego, 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
77.4 mi
1h 30m
I 405
34.4 mi
39m
San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
14.1 mi
16m
Corona Del Mar Freeway
4 mi
4m
Santa Monica Boulevard
1.1 mi
2m
1st Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Westholme Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Cotner Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
San Diego Freeway
— 77.4 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between San Diego, CA and Westwood, 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.
Toward CA 73 North: Long BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on CA 73
4.0 mi·4 min·Corona Del Mar Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 405
9.6 mi·11 min·San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 405
34 mi·39 min·I 405
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 55AToward CA 2: Santa Monica BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on Cotner Avenue
435 ft·7 sec·Cotner Avenue
14
Turn right onto US 66 Hist
1.1 mi·2 min·Santa Monica Boulevard
Use the right lane.
15
Turn left onto Westholme Avenue
0.2 mi·45 sec·Westholme Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto Kinnard Avenue
165 ft·7 sec·Kinnard Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Kinnard Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 37m estimated duration, leaving in the morning or early afternoon should allow you to reach Westwood with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $30, this trip is easily managed in a single day. The longest stretch without a major change in road is 77.4 miles on the San Diego Freeway, so plan your fuel and restroom breaks accordingly before embarking on that segment. This route is ideal for maximizing your time at your destination rather than spending it on the road.
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 66.1 miles from San Diego, CA, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.4 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 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.1 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 Westwood, 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 132.3 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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 San Diego Freeway for about 77.4 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 130.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|1st Avenue
Turn left onto 1st Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
6
14.3 mi into trip|~17m in|I 5 / San Diego Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / San Diego Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
68.6 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|CA 73 / San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 73 / San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor toward CA 73 North: Long Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 73 North: Long Beach
7
130.7 mi into trip|~2h 33m in
Take the exit toward CA 2: Santa Monica Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 55A
Toward CA 2: Santa Monica Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.41 one way
$60.82 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$31.34
$62.67
premium
$6.18
$32.17
$64.35
diesel
$5.61
$29.21
$58.42
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: 46.3 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
39.7
0
$13.89
$6.35
Efficient EV
33.1
0
$11.58
$5.29
EV Truck/SUV
52.9
0
$18.52
$8.47
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.
Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026
Origin
San Diego, CA
Late night
in San Diego on Tuesday
Local time
3:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Westwood, CA
Late night
in Westwood on Tuesday
Local time
3:42 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 37m 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
Park Closure: Park Auditorium Closed Until Further Notice
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
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 132.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this trip, with 88% of the route utilizing major freeways. You'll spend a significant amount of time on the San Diego Freeway, including one continuous stretch of 77.4 miles. The primary roads guiding you are the San Diego Freeway, I 405, and the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor, suggesting a consistent, high-speed driving experience. This route is designed for covering distance efficiently rather than offering winding scenic detours.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.4 mi on San Diego Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Diego Freeway and I 405. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 1st Avenue.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 132.3 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 0.1 miles (1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14.3 miles (I 5 / San Diego Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 37m. Total distance: 132.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 77.4 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 Westwood, 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 0.1 miles (1st Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 14.3 miles (I 5 / San Diego 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 Westwood, CA before heading back.
