Traffic Predict
Best Time to Drive from La Mesa to San Diego
Right now (6:02 pm PDT): about 19 minutes via I-8 West and I-5 South, usually 18 at this time.
Only 56% 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.
On weekdays the 16-mile drive from La Mesa to San Diego (via I-8 West and I-5 South) usually takes as little as 14 minutes and up to 27 minutes, when leaving around 4 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 15 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12 pm on Saturdays (16 minutes).
⇄ Reverse trip: San Diego to La Mesa
Typical drive time by departure time
| Leave | 5am | 6am | 7am | 8am | 9am | 10am | 11am | 12pm | 1pm | 2pm | 3pm | 4pm | 5pm | 6pm | 7pm | 8pm | 9pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | 14 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 23 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Tue | 14 | 15 | 16 | 25 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 19 | 25 | 25 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Wed | 15 | 15 | 16 | 26 | 21 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 26 | 24 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Thu | 14 | 15 | 16 | 26 | 20 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 19 | 27 | 21 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Fri | 14 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Sat | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Sun | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
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 Diego?
On weekdays, leave before 7:30 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 14 minutes then, versus up to 27 minutes at the worst times.
How long does it take to drive from La Mesa to San Diego?
The 16-mile drive usually takes 14 to 27 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 15 minutes midday.
When is traffic worst from La Mesa to San Diego?
Leaving around 4 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 27 minutes.
Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →
Freeways on this drive
I-8 West in San Diego (11 miles) · I-5 South in San Diego (3 miles)
San Diego traffic right now · San Diego traffic tomorrow