Best Time to Drive from La Mesa to Escondido

Right now (6:06 pm PDT): about 42 minutes via I-15 North and SR-52 West, usually 35 at this time.

Only 64% 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 Escondido 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	35	39	40	37	36	36	36	36	37	42	48	43	35	34	34	34
Tue	34	36	40	42	39	37	36	36	36	37	46	51	50	38	34	34	34
Wed	34	36	40	41	39	37	36	36	37	38	47	58	53	39	34	34	34
Thu	34	35	40	42	38	36	36	36	36	38	46	53	49	38	34	34	34
Fri	33	36	38	37	36	36	36	36	38	43	48	46	39	35	34	34	34
Sat	34	34	34	34	34	35	35	35	37	35	36	35	34	34	34	34	34
Sun	34	34	34	34	34	34	34	35	35	35	34	34	34	34	35	34	34

About this drive

On weekdays the 37-mile drive from La Mesa to Escondido (via I-15 North and SR-52 West) usually takes as little as 33 minutes and up to 58 minutes, when leaving around 4 pm on Wednesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6:30 am or after 6:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 37 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 1 pm on Saturdays (37 minutes).

About 34 miles of it is freeway, where times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors, and about 3 miles surface streets (4 to 9 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 Escondido 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 Escondido?

On weekdays, leave before 6:30 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 33 minutes then, versus up to 58 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 37-mile drive usually takes 33 to 58 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 37 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from La Mesa to Escondido?

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

Freeways on this drive

I-15 North in San Diego (16 miles) · SR-52 West in San Diego (7 miles) · I-8 East in San Diego (6 miles)

San Diego traffic right now · San Diego traffic tomorrow

More drives

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

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	35	39	40	37	36	36	36	36	37	42	48	43	35	34	34	34
Tue	34	36	40	42	39	37	36	36	36	37	46	51	50	38	34	34	34
Wed	34	36	40	41	39	37	36	36	37	38	47	58	53	39	34	34	34
Thu	34	35	40	42	38	36	36	36	36	38	46	53	49	38	34	34	34
Fri	33	36	38	37	36	36	36	36	38	43	48	46	39	35	34	34	34
Sat	34	34	34	34	34	35	35	35	37	35	36	35	34	34	34	34	34
Sun	34	34	34	34	34	34	34	35	35	35	34	34	34	34	35	34	34

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	34	35	39	40	37	36	36	36	36	37	42	48	43	35	34	34	34
Tue	34	36	40	42	39	37	36	36	36	37	46	51	50	38	34	34	34
Wed	34	36	40	41	39	37	36	36	37	38	47	58	53	39	34	34	34
Thu	34	35	40	42	38	36	36	36	36	38	46	53	49	38	34	34	34
Fri	33	36	38	37	36	36	36	36	38	43	48	46	39	35	34	34	34
Sat	34	34	34	34	34	35	35	35	37	35	36	35	34	34	34	34	34
Sun	34	34	34	34	34	34	34	35	35	35	34	34	34	34	35	34	34

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	34	35	39	40	37	36	36	36	36	37	42	48	43	35	34	34	34
Tue	34	36	40	42	39	37	36	36	36	37	46	51	50	38	34	34	34
Wed	34	36	40	41	39	37	36	36	37	38	47	58	53	39	34	34	34
Thu	34	35	40	42	38	36	36	36	36	38	46	53	49	38	34	34	34
Fri	33	36	38	37	36	36	36	36	38	43	48	46	39	35	34	34	34
Sat	34	34	34	34	34	35	35	35	37	35	36	35	34	34	34	34	34
Sun	34	34	34	34	34	34	34	35	35	35	34	34	34	34	35	34	34