Traffic Predict

Best Time to Drive from San Diego to La Jolla

Right now (11:31 am PDT): about 19 minutes via I-5 North, usually 19 at this time.

On weekdays the 13-mile drive from San Diego to La Jolla (via I-5 North) usually takes as little as 18 minutes and up to 30 minutes, when leaving around 5:30 pm on Thursdays. 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 8:30 pm on Sundays (19 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: La Jolla to San Diego

Freeway, about 6 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 7 miles: 13 to 24 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 downtown San Diego (East Broadway) to central La Jolla (Fay Avenue) 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 San Diego to La Jolla by day and time you leave (local time)
Leave5am6am7am8am9am10am11am12pm1pm2pm3pm4pm5pm6pm7pm8pm9pm
Mon1818181919181918181819212119181818
Tue1818192121191818181821262926181818
Wed1818192121191818181821252622181818
Thu1818192020191818181821262924181818
Fri1818181919181819191922242421181818
Sat1818181818191919191919191918181818
Sun1818181818181919191919191818181918

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 San Diego to La Jolla?

On weekdays, leave before 8 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 18 minutes then, versus up to 30 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from San Diego to La Jolla?

The 13-mile drive usually takes 18 to 30 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 18 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from San Diego to La Jolla?

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

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

La Jolla to San Diego (return trip) · San Diego to Escondido · San Diego to Oceanside · San Diego to El Cajon · San Diego to Carlsbad · San Diego to Los Angeles · San Diego to Irvine · San Diego to Temecula · San Diego to LAX · San Diego to Anaheim · San Diego to Riverside · San Diego to Chula Vista

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