Origin
Van Nuys, CA
Late night in Van Nuys on Tuesday
Local time
4:44 AM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Van Nuys, 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 49m
Distance
137.1 mi
221 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 39m
★
6 AM
2h 50m
8 AM
3h 12m
10 AM
2h 58m
12 PM
2h 55m
3 PM
2h 59m
5 PM
3h 11m
8 PM
2h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Van Nuys, CA
Wikimedia Commons
San Diego, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Van Nuys to San Diego is 137.1 miles and takes about 2h 49m via the San Diego Freeway, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within California, connecting two points along the Pacific Coast. Given its mostly highway profile and manageable duration, it's a straightforward trip suitable for a single day. You'll primarily be on well-traveled freeways, making it a practical option when you need to get from the Los Angeles area down to San Diego efficiently.
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
68.6 miles from Van Nuys, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Freeway | 76.5 mi | 1h 29m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 38.6 mi | 45m |
| Hollywood Freeway | 13 mi | 17m |
| Victory Boulevard | 2.6 mi | 5m |
| Walnut Avenue | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Front Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Jamboree Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Newport Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
San Diego Freeway
— 76.5 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Van Nuys, CA and San Diego, CA.
1
Start on Victory Boulevard
2.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Victory Boulevard
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward CA 170 South: Los Angeles, Hollywood Freeway
3
Merge onto CA 170
13 mi
·
17 min
·
Hollywood Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on US 101
29 mi
·
35 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
Toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
Toward I 5 South
9
Merge onto I 5
0.8 mi
·
54 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 102
Toward Newport Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn right onto Newport Avenue
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Newport Avenue
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto Walnut Avenue
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Walnut Avenue
15
Turn left onto Jamboree Road
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
·
Jamboree Road
Toward CA 261 Toll North: Jamboree Road, Riverside
Use the left lane.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 5 South
17
Merge onto I 5
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 5
76 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 17
Toward Front Street, Civic Center, 2nd Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward Front Street, Civic Center
22
Continue on Front Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Front Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
23
Arrive at destination
Front Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 137.1-mile drive, consider leaving Van Nuys early in the morning, ideally before 7 AM, to bypass the heaviest commuter traffic. The 2h 49m estimated duration doesn't account for significant stops, so factor in extra time if you plan to pull over. With a fuel cost estimated around $32, ensure your tank is full before departing or plan a refueling stop. The longest stretch on the San Diego Freeway is over 76 miles, so be prepared for extended highway cruising without many immediate exit options.
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 68.6 miles from Van Nuys, CA, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.5 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 30 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.6 miles or 1h 28m 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 19m
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 Van Nuys, 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 Van Nuys, CA
This is one driving day of about 137.1 miles and 2h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Van Nuys, 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 76.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
69 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 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 68.6 miles from Van Nuys, 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 76.5 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 195 decision points cluster between mile 45.5 and 136.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
45.5 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
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 Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
7
49.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward Newport Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 102
Toward Newport Avenue
8
52.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
Jamboree Road
Turn left onto Jamboree Road toward CA 261 Toll North: Jamboree Road, Riverside
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward CA 261 Toll North: Jamboree Road, Rivers...
8
136.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 47m 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
7
136.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Front Street, Civic Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Front Street, Civic Center
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.51 one way
$63.02 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
48 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $32.47 | $64.94 |
| premium | $6.18 | $33.34 | $66.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.27 | $60.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48 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 | 41.1 | 0 | $14.40 | $6.58 |
| Efficient EV | 34.3 | 0 | $12.00 | $5.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 54.8 | 0 | $19.19 | $8.77 |
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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
4:44 AM
PDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Santa Ana, CA
69 mi in
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
16 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 49m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend most of your time on the freeway, with 93% of the 137.1 miles covered by high-speed roads like the San Diego Freeway and Santa Ana Freeway. The longest continuous stretch of highway driving is 76.5 miles on the San Diego Freeway. Expect frequent exits and entrances as you navigate through urban and suburban areas. The transition to surface roads will occur only for a small portion of the total distance.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.5 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 Santa Ana Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 45.5 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 137.1 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 45.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.7 miles (Jamboree Road): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Between Van Nuys, CA and San Diego, CA, road signs point toward Broadway, Santa Ana and Riverside.
Broadway
45.5 mi in
|
~59m
Santa Ana
45.5 mi in
|
~59m
Riverside
52.7 mi in
|
~1h 9m
|
via Jamboree Road
About the Cities
Starting in Van Nuys, CA
Full guide →Van Nuys is a prominent neighborhood in the middle of the San Fernando Valley, a part of the city of Los Angeles in Southern California. Although there are few tourist attractions here, Van Nuys serves as a civic and commercial center for the Valley.
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 49m. Total distance: 137.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.5 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 45.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.7 miles (Jamboree Road): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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