Best Time to Drive from San Diego to Riverside

Right now (8:32 am PDT): about 129 minutes via I-15 North and I-215 North, usually 111 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 99-mile drive from San Diego to Riverside (via I-15 North and I-215 North) usually takes as little as 95 minutes and up to 161 minutes, when leaving around 3:30 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 5:30 am or after 6:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 116 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 1:30 pm on Saturdays (106 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Riverside to San Diego

Freeway, about 84 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 14 miles: 21 to 41 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 Riverside 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 Riverside 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	100	113	114	113	108	106	108	112	113	113	127	137	123	101	98	97	96
Tue	101	122	121	117	111	108	107	109	112	119	147	149	132	107	99	96	95
Wed	101	122	119	114	111	111	114	120	113	122	144	150	134	112	102	98	97
Thu	101	121	117	116	112	107	109	111	115	125	153	156	137	113	102	98	96
Fri	99	107	108	110	109	109	111	117	120	142	160	152	130	107	100	97	96
Sat	96	96	97	99	102	104	104	104	105	105	104	104	101	98	99	98	94
Sun	95	94	95	96	99	102	104	105	103	100	100	99	99	99	100	98	95

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 Riverside?

On weekdays, leave before 5:30 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 95 minutes then, versus up to 161 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from San Diego to Riverside?

The 99-mile drive usually takes 95 to 161 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 116 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from San Diego to Riverside?

Leaving around 3:30 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 161 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

Freeways on this drive

I-215 North in Inland Empire (33 miles) · I-15 North in San Diego (33 miles) · I-15 North in Inland Empire (10 miles) · SR-163 North in San Diego (9 miles)

San Diego traffic right now · San Diego traffic tomorrow · Inland Empire traffic right now · Inland Empire traffic tomorrow

More drives

Riverside 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 Chula Vista · San Diego to La Jolla · San Diego to Anaheim

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	100	113	114	113	108	106	108	112	113	113	127	137	123	101	98	97	96
Tue	101	122	121	117	111	108	107	109	112	119	147	149	132	107	99	96	95
Wed	101	122	119	114	111	111	114	120	113	122	144	150	134	112	102	98	97
Thu	101	121	117	116	112	107	109	111	115	125	153	156	137	113	102	98	96
Fri	99	107	108	110	109	109	111	117	120	142	160	152	130	107	100	97	96
Sat	96	96	97	99	102	104	104	104	105	105	104	104	101	98	99	98	94
Sun	95	94	95	96	99	102	104	105	103	100	100	99	99	99	100	98	95

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	100	113	114	113	108	106	108	112	113	113	127	137	123	101	98	97	96
Tue	101	122	121	117	111	108	107	109	112	119	147	149	132	107	99	96	95
Wed	101	122	119	114	111	111	114	120	113	122	144	150	134	112	102	98	97
Thu	101	121	117	116	112	107	109	111	115	125	153	156	137	113	102	98	96
Fri	99	107	108	110	109	109	111	117	120	142	160	152	130	107	100	97	96
Sat	96	96	97	99	102	104	104	104	105	105	104	104	101	98	99	98	94
Sun	95	94	95	96	99	102	104	105	103	100	100	99	99	99	100	98	95

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	100	113	114	113	108	106	108	112	113	113	127	137	123	101	98	97	96
Tue	101	122	121	117	111	108	107	109	112	119	147	149	132	107	99	96	95
Wed	101	122	119	114	111	111	114	120	113	122	144	150	134	112	102	98	97
Thu	101	121	117	116	112	107	109	111	115	125	153	156	137	113	102	98	96
Fri	99	107	108	110	109	109	111	117	120	142	160	152	130	107	100	97	96
Sat	96	96	97	99	102	104	104	104	105	105	104	104	101	98	99	98	94
Sun	95	94	95	96	99	102	104	105	103	100	100	99	99	99	100	98	95