Best Time to Drive from La Mesa to San Clemente

Right now (12:51 am PST): about 54 minutes via I-5 North.

Only 65% 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 San Clemente 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	54	54	57	66	64	59	58	58	57	57	61	68	67	57	55	56	55
Tue	54	54	58	71	69	61	58	58	57	58	66	75	73	63	56	55	55
Wed	54	55	58	71	68	60	58	58	58	59	67	78	77	64	57	56	55
Thu	54	54	58	69	68	60	58	58	58	60	69	78	81	66	57	56	55
Fri	54	55	57	61	59	58	58	59	62	66	74	76	67	59	57	56	54
Sat	54	54	54	55	56	59	63	63	61	60	59	59	58	56	56	56	54
Sun	54	54	54	55	55	59	65	66	67	64	61	60	59	57	57	57	54

About this drive

On weekdays the 62-mile drive from La Mesa to San Clemente (via I-5 North) usually takes as little as 54 minutes and up to 81 minutes, when leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7:30 am or after 6:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 59 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12:30 pm on Sundays (67 minutes).

About 61 miles of it is freeway, where times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors, and about 1 mile surface streets (about 1 minutes), estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time. Drive times are measured from central La Mesa to central San Clemente 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 San Clemente?

On weekdays, leave before 7:30 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 54 minutes then, versus up to 81 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from La Mesa to San Clemente?

The 62-mile drive usually takes 54 to 81 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 59 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from La Mesa to San Clemente?

Leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 81 minutes.

Freeways on this drive

I-5 North in San Diego (40 miles) · I-805 North in San Diego (10 miles) · I-8 West in San Diego (8 miles) · I-5 North in Orange County (3 miles)

San Diego traffic right now · San Diego traffic tomorrow · Orange County traffic right now · Orange County traffic tomorrow

More drives

San Clemente 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 Carlsbad · La Mesa to Temecula · La Mesa to Murrieta · La Mesa to Vista · La Mesa to Mission Viejo · La Mesa to San Marcos

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	54	54	57	66	64	59	58	58	57	57	61	68	67	57	55	56	55
Tue	54	54	58	71	69	61	58	58	57	58	66	75	73	63	56	55	55
Wed	54	55	58	71	68	60	58	58	58	59	67	78	77	64	57	56	55
Thu	54	54	58	69	68	60	58	58	58	60	69	78	81	66	57	56	55
Fri	54	55	57	61	59	58	58	59	62	66	74	76	67	59	57	56	54
Sat	54	54	54	55	56	59	63	63	61	60	59	59	58	56	56	56	54
Sun	54	54	54	55	55	59	65	66	67	64	61	60	59	57	57	57	54

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	54	54	57	66	64	59	58	58	57	57	61	68	67	57	55	56	55
Tue	54	54	58	71	69	61	58	58	57	58	66	75	73	63	56	55	55
Wed	54	55	58	71	68	60	58	58	58	59	67	78	77	64	57	56	55
Thu	54	54	58	69	68	60	58	58	58	60	69	78	81	66	57	56	55
Fri	54	55	57	61	59	58	58	59	62	66	74	76	67	59	57	56	54
Sat	54	54	54	55	56	59	63	63	61	60	59	59	58	56	56	56	54
Sun	54	54	54	55	55	59	65	66	67	64	61	60	59	57	57	57	54

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	54	54	57	66	64	59	58	58	57	57	61	68	67	57	55	56	55
Tue	54	54	58	71	69	61	58	58	57	58	66	75	73	63	56	55	55
Wed	54	55	58	71	68	60	58	58	58	59	67	78	77	64	57	56	55
Thu	54	54	58	69	68	60	58	58	58	60	69	78	81	66	57	56	55
Fri	54	55	57	61	59	58	58	59	62	66	74	76	67	59	57	56	54
Sat	54	54	54	55	56	59	63	63	61	60	59	59	58	56	56	56	54
Sun	54	54	54	55	55	59	65	66	67	64	61	60	59	57	57	57	54