Best Time to Drive from La Mesa to Carlsbad

Right now (6:34 pm PDT): about 37 minutes via I-5 North and I-805 North and I-8 West, usually 36 at this time.

Only 69% of this drive is measured by working traffic sensors right now. The rest is estimated from nearby sensors, typical speeds and street traffic, so times can be off. Why so few sensors work.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from La Mesa to Carlsbad 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	34	34	37	45	42	37	36	36	36	37	41	47	45	36	35	35	35
Tue	34	34	37	50	47	39	36	36	36	37	45	53	52	41	35	35	35
Wed	34	35	38	51	47	39	37	37	37	39	48	57	56	43	36	35	35
Thu	34	35	38	49	45	39	37	37	37	39	49	56	57	44	36	35	34
Fri	34	34	36	40	38	37	37	37	39	43	50	51	42	37	35	35	34
Sat	34	34	34	35	35	36	38	38	39	38	37	36	36	35	35	35	34
Sun	34	34	34	34	35	36	38	38	38	37	37	36	36	35	36	35	34

About this drive

On weekdays the 38-mile drive from La Mesa to Carlsbad (via I-5 North and I-805 North and I-8 West) usually takes as little as 34 minutes and up to 58 minutes, when leaving around 4:30 pm on Wednesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7 am or after 6:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 37 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 1:30 pm on Saturdays (39 minutes).

About 35 miles of it is freeway, where times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors, and about 3 miles surface streets (3 to 5 minutes on weekdays), estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time. Drive times are measured from central La Mesa to central Carlsbad along the route on the map. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

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 La Mesa to Carlsbad?

On weekdays, leave before 7 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 34 minutes then, versus up to 58 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from La Mesa to Carlsbad?

The 38-mile drive usually takes 34 to 58 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 37 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from La Mesa to Carlsbad?

Leaving around 4:30 pm on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 58 minutes.

Freeways on this drive

I-5 North in San Diego (17 miles) · I-805 North in San Diego (10 miles) · I-8 West in San Diego (8 miles)

San Diego traffic right now · San Diego traffic tomorrow

More drives

Carlsbad to La Mesa (return trip) · La Mesa to San Diego · La Mesa to Santa Monica · La Mesa to Chula Vista · La Mesa to Oceanside · La Mesa to Escondido · La Mesa to Temecula · La Mesa to Murrieta

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	34	34	37	45	42	37	36	36	36	37	41	47	45	36	35	35	35
Tue	34	34	37	50	47	39	36	36	36	37	45	53	52	41	35	35	35
Wed	34	35	38	51	47	39	37	37	37	39	48	57	56	43	36	35	35
Thu	34	35	38	49	45	39	37	37	37	39	49	56	57	44	36	35	34
Fri	34	34	36	40	38	37	37	37	39	43	50	51	42	37	35	35	34
Sat	34	34	34	35	35	36	38	38	39	38	37	36	36	35	35	35	34
Sun	34	34	34	34	35	36	38	38	38	37	37	36	36	35	36	35	34

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	34	34	37	45	42	37	36	36	36	37	41	47	45	36	35	35	35
Tue	34	34	37	50	47	39	36	36	36	37	45	53	52	41	35	35	35
Wed	34	35	38	51	47	39	37	37	37	39	48	57	56	43	36	35	35
Thu	34	35	38	49	45	39	37	37	37	39	49	56	57	44	36	35	34
Fri	34	34	36	40	38	37	37	37	39	43	50	51	42	37	35	35	34
Sat	34	34	34	35	35	36	38	38	39	38	37	36	36	35	35	35	34
Sun	34	34	34	34	35	36	38	38	38	37	37	36	36	35	36	35	34

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	34	34	37	45	42	37	36	36	36	37	41	47	45	36	35	35	35
Tue	34	34	37	50	47	39	36	36	36	37	45	53	52	41	35	35	35
Wed	34	35	38	51	47	39	37	37	37	39	48	57	56	43	36	35	35
Thu	34	35	38	49	45	39	37	37	37	39	49	56	57	44	36	35	34
Fri	34	34	36	40	38	37	37	37	39	43	50	51	42	37	35	35	34
Sat	34	34	34	35	35	36	38	38	39	38	37	36	36	35	35	35	34
Sun	34	34	34	34	35	36	38	38	38	37	37	36	36	35	36	35	34