Best Time to Drive from Los Angeles to San Diego

Right now (9:01 am PDT): about 112 minutes via I-5 South, usually 129 at this time.

On weekdays the 120-mile drive from Los Angeles to San Diego (via I-5 South) usually takes as little as 107 minutes and up to 172 minutes, when leaving around 2:30 pm on Fridays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 7:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 129 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 1:30 pm on Saturdays (144 minutes).

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Los Angeles to San Diego 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	107	119	129	132	122	116	117	117	120	126	132	135	135	123	114	110	108
Tue	108	123	142	139	127	120	119	119	122	134	148	147	140	127	118	110	108
Wed	107	123	142	138	128	120	119	119	124	136	147	147	144	131	119	111	108
Thu	107	121	139	137	127	122	122	122	130	143	157	151	143	132	120	111	108
Fri	107	117	125	128	124	127	134	143	156	170	171	162	146	133	119	112	108
Sat	107	109	110	118	129	139	143	143	143	144	142	133	126	119	113	111	108
Sun	107	107	107	109	113	121	125	124	125	123	124	119	116	114	114	113	108

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. Surface streets at each end are estimated.

Questions

What is the best time to drive from Los Angeles to San Diego?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 7:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 107 minutes then, versus up to 172 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Los Angeles to San Diego?

The 120-mile drive usually takes 107 to 172 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 129 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Los Angeles to San Diego?

Leaving around 2:30 pm on Fridays is usually slowest, about 172 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

San Diego to Los Angeles (return trip) · Los Angeles to Santa Monica · Los Angeles to Long Beach · Los Angeles to West Covina · Los Angeles to Burbank · Los Angeles to Glendale · Los Angeles to Santa Clarita · Los Angeles to Van Nuys · Los Angeles to Torrance · Los Angeles to Hollywood · Los Angeles to Culver City · Los Angeles to El Monte

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	107	119	129	132	122	116	117	117	120	126	132	135	135	123	114	110	108
Tue	108	123	142	139	127	120	119	119	122	134	148	147	140	127	118	110	108
Wed	107	123	142	138	128	120	119	119	124	136	147	147	144	131	119	111	108
Thu	107	121	139	137	127	122	122	122	130	143	157	151	143	132	120	111	108
Fri	107	117	125	128	124	127	134	143	156	170	171	162	146	133	119	112	108
Sat	107	109	110	118	129	139	143	143	143	144	142	133	126	119	113	111	108
Sun	107	107	107	109	113	121	125	124	125	123	124	119	116	114	114	113	108

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	107	119	129	132	122	116	117	117	120	126	132	135	135	123	114	110	108
Tue	108	123	142	139	127	120	119	119	122	134	148	147	140	127	118	110	108
Wed	107	123	142	138	128	120	119	119	124	136	147	147	144	131	119	111	108
Thu	107	121	139	137	127	122	122	122	130	143	157	151	143	132	120	111	108
Fri	107	117	125	128	124	127	134	143	156	170	171	162	146	133	119	112	108
Sat	107	109	110	118	129	139	143	143	143	144	142	133	126	119	113	111	108
Sun	107	107	107	109	113	121	125	124	125	123	124	119	116	114	114	113	108

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	107	119	129	132	122	116	117	117	120	126	132	135	135	123	114	110	108
Tue	108	123	142	139	127	120	119	119	122	134	148	147	140	127	118	110	108
Wed	107	123	142	138	128	120	119	119	124	136	147	147	144	131	119	111	108
Thu	107	121	139	137	127	122	122	122	130	143	157	151	143	132	120	111	108
Fri	107	117	125	128	124	127	134	143	156	170	171	162	146	133	119	112	108
Sat	107	109	110	118	129	139	143	143	143	144	142	133	126	119	113	111	108
Sun	107	107	107	109	113	121	125	124	125	123	124	119	116	114	114	113	108