Best Time to Drive from El Cajon to La Jolla

Right now (11:31 am PDT): about 28 minutes via I-8 West and I-805 North, usually 28 at this time.

On weekdays the 24-mile drive from El Cajon to La Jolla (via I-8 West and I-805 North) usually takes as little as 26 minutes and up to 41 minutes, when leaving around 8 am on Wednesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7 am or after 6 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 28 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 11 am on Saturdays (28 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: La Jolla to El Cajon

Freeway, about 17 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 7 miles: 11 to 16 minutes on weekdays, estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time (we don't have street sensors yet). Drive times are measured from central El Cajon (South Magnolia Avenue) to central La Jolla (Fay Avenue) along the route shown. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from El Cajon to La Jolla by day and time you leave (local time)
Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	27	27	29	33	29	28	28	28	28	28	28	29	29	27	27	27	27
Tue	26	27	31	41	33	28	28	28	28	28	29	31	32	28	27	27	27
Wed	27	27	31	41	34	28	28	28	28	28	28	30	30	28	27	27	27
Thu	27	27	31	40	32	28	28	28	28	28	29	33	33	28	27	27	27
Fri	27	27	29	30	28	28	28	28	28	28	30	31	30	28	27	27	27
Sat	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	28	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27
Sun	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27

Simulated from typical freeway speeds at each point of the drive for the time you would reach it, from every 5-minute reading we have recorded. We don't have sensors on surface streets yet, so the time on them is estimated from how congested the freeways around each end of the drive are at that time, in both directions: streets jam when the freeways do.

Questions

What is the best time to drive from El Cajon to La Jolla?

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 6 pm. The drive usually takes about 26 minutes then, versus up to 41 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from El Cajon to La Jolla?

The 24-mile drive usually takes 26 to 41 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 28 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from El Cajon to La Jolla?

Leaving around 8 am on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 41 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

La Jolla to El Cajon (return trip) · El Cajon to San Diego · El Cajon to Escondido · El Cajon to Oceanside · El Cajon to Chula Vista · El Cajon to Carlsbad · El Cajon to SAN

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	27	27	29	33	29	28	28	28	28	28	28	29	29	27	27	27	27
Tue	26	27	31	41	33	28	28	28	28	28	29	31	32	28	27	27	27
Wed	27	27	31	41	34	28	28	28	28	28	28	30	30	28	27	27	27
Thu	27	27	31	40	32	28	28	28	28	28	29	33	33	28	27	27	27
Fri	27	27	29	30	28	28	28	28	28	28	30	31	30	28	27	27	27
Sat	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	28	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27
Sun	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	27	27	29	33	29	28	28	28	28	28	28	29	29	27	27	27	27
Tue	26	27	31	41	33	28	28	28	28	28	29	31	32	28	27	27	27
Wed	27	27	31	41	34	28	28	28	28	28	28	30	30	28	27	27	27
Thu	27	27	31	40	32	28	28	28	28	28	29	33	33	28	27	27	27
Fri	27	27	29	30	28	28	28	28	28	28	30	31	30	28	27	27	27
Sat	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	28	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27
Sun	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	27	27	29	33	29	28	28	28	28	28	28	29	29	27	27	27	27
Tue	26	27	31	41	33	28	28	28	28	28	29	31	32	28	27	27	27
Wed	27	27	31	41	34	28	28	28	28	28	28	30	30	28	27	27	27
Thu	27	27	31	40	32	28	28	28	28	28	29	33	33	28	27	27	27
Fri	27	27	29	30	28	28	28	28	28	28	30	31	30	28	27	27	27
Sat	27	27	27	27	27	27	28	28	28	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27
Sun	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27	27