Best Time to Drive from Mira Mesa to San Diego

Right now (6:24 pm PDT): about 24 minutes via SR-163 South and I-15 South, usually 19 at this time.

Only 51% 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 18-mile drive from Mira Mesa to San Diego (via SR-163 South and I-15 South) usually takes as little as 17 minutes and up to 30 minutes, when leaving around 5 pm on Wednesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 8 am or after 6:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 18 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 12 pm on Saturdays (19 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: San Diego to Mira Mesa

Freeway, about 15 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 3 miles: 5 to 9 minutes on weekdays, estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time (we don't have street sensors yet). Drive times are measured from central Mira Mesa to downtown San Diego along the route shown. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Mira Mesa 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	17	18	18	19	19	18	18	18	18	18	21	24	23	18	18	17	17
Tue	17	18	18	20	19	19	18	18	18	18	22	28	29	23	18	17	17
Wed	17	18	18	20	19	18	18	18	18	18	22	27	30	24	18	18	17
Thu	17	18	18	20	19	18	18	18	18	18	22	27	28	22	18	18	17
Fri	17	18	18	19	18	18	18	18	19	19	23	25	24	19	18	18	17
Sat	17	18	18	18	18	18	18	19	18	18	19	18	18	18	18	18	17
Sun	17	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	17

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 Mira Mesa to San Diego?

On weekdays, leave before 8 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 17 minutes then, versus up to 30 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Mira Mesa to San Diego?

The 18-mile drive usually takes 17 to 30 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 18 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Mira Mesa to San Diego?

Leaving around 5 pm on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 30 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

Freeways on this drive

SR-163 South in San Diego (11 miles) · I-15 South in San Diego (4 miles)

San Diego traffic right now · San Diego traffic tomorrow

More drives

San Diego to Mira Mesa (return trip)

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	17	18	18	19	19	18	18	18	18	18	21	24	23	18	18	17	17
Tue	17	18	18	20	19	19	18	18	18	18	22	28	29	23	18	17	17
Wed	17	18	18	20	19	18	18	18	18	18	22	27	30	24	18	18	17
Thu	17	18	18	20	19	18	18	18	18	18	22	27	28	22	18	18	17
Fri	17	18	18	19	18	18	18	18	19	19	23	25	24	19	18	18	17
Sat	17	18	18	18	18	18	18	19	18	18	19	18	18	18	18	18	17
Sun	17	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	17

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	17	18	18	19	19	18	18	18	18	18	21	24	23	18	18	17	17
Tue	17	18	18	20	19	19	18	18	18	18	22	28	29	23	18	17	17
Wed	17	18	18	20	19	18	18	18	18	18	22	27	30	24	18	18	17
Thu	17	18	18	20	19	18	18	18	18	18	22	27	28	22	18	18	17
Fri	17	18	18	19	18	18	18	18	19	19	23	25	24	19	18	18	17
Sat	17	18	18	18	18	18	18	19	18	18	19	18	18	18	18	18	17
Sun	17	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	17

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	17	18	18	19	19	18	18	18	18	18	21	24	23	18	18	17	17
Tue	17	18	18	20	19	19	18	18	18	18	22	28	29	23	18	17	17
Wed	17	18	18	20	19	18	18	18	18	18	22	27	30	24	18	18	17
Thu	17	18	18	20	19	18	18	18	18	18	22	27	28	22	18	18	17
Fri	17	18	18	19	18	18	18	18	19	19	23	25	24	19	18	18	17
Sat	17	18	18	18	18	18	18	19	18	18	19	18	18	18	18	18	17
Sun	17	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	17