Best Time to Drive from San Diego to Vista

Right now (6:24 pm PDT): about 48 minutes via I-5 North, usually 39 at this time.

Only 65% 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 42-mile drive from San Diego to Vista (via I-5 North) usually takes as little as 38 minutes and up to 71 minutes, when leaving around 3:30 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 42 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 11:30 am on Sundays (51 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Vista to San Diego

Freeway, about 40 miles: times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors. Surface streets, about 2 miles: 3 to 6 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 to central Vista 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 Vista 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	38	38	39	42	42	41	41	40	40	41	54	57	52	40	39	39	39
Tue	38	38	39	42	44	41	40	41	41	43	53	63	60	45	39	39	40
Wed	38	38	39	43	44	42	42	41	45	44	65	68	66	49	39	39	38
Thu	38	38	40	41	42	42	41	41	40	42	59	61	61	47	39	39	39
Fri	38	38	39	42	41	41	41	43	45	49	59	59	50	40	39	39	38
Sat	38	38	38	38	39	41	45	47	42	42	42	41	40	39	39	40	38
Sun	38	38	38	38	39	41	49	50	46	43	43	42	41	40	40	41	39

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 Vista?

On weekdays, leave before 8 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 38 minutes then, versus up to 71 minutes at the worst times.

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

The 42-mile drive usually takes 38 to 71 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 42 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from San Diego to Vista?

Leaving around 3:30 pm on Wednesdays is usually slowest, about 71 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

Freeways on this drive

I-5 North in San Diego (36 miles) · SR-78 East in San Diego (4 miles)

San Diego traffic right now · San Diego traffic tomorrow

More drives

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

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	38	38	39	42	42	41	41	40	40	41	54	57	52	40	39	39	39
Tue	38	38	39	42	44	41	40	41	41	43	53	63	60	45	39	39	40
Wed	38	38	39	43	44	42	42	41	45	44	65	68	66	49	39	39	38
Thu	38	38	40	41	42	42	41	41	40	42	59	61	61	47	39	39	39
Fri	38	38	39	42	41	41	41	43	45	49	59	59	50	40	39	39	38
Sat	38	38	38	38	39	41	45	47	42	42	42	41	40	39	39	40	38
Sun	38	38	38	38	39	41	49	50	46	43	43	42	41	40	40	41	39

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	38	38	39	42	42	41	41	40	40	41	54	57	52	40	39	39	39
Tue	38	38	39	42	44	41	40	41	41	43	53	63	60	45	39	39	40
Wed	38	38	39	43	44	42	42	41	45	44	65	68	66	49	39	39	38
Thu	38	38	40	41	42	42	41	41	40	42	59	61	61	47	39	39	39
Fri	38	38	39	42	41	41	41	43	45	49	59	59	50	40	39	39	38
Sat	38	38	38	38	39	41	45	47	42	42	42	41	40	39	39	40	38
Sun	38	38	38	38	39	41	49	50	46	43	43	42	41	40	40	41	39

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	38	38	39	42	42	41	41	40	40	41	54	57	52	40	39	39	39
Tue	38	38	39	42	44	41	40	41	41	43	53	63	60	45	39	39	40
Wed	38	38	39	43	44	42	42	41	45	44	65	68	66	49	39	39	38
Thu	38	38	40	41	42	42	41	41	40	42	59	61	61	47	39	39	39
Fri	38	38	39	42	41	41	41	43	45	49	59	59	50	40	39	39	38
Sat	38	38	38	38	39	41	45	47	42	42	42	41	40	39	39	40	38
Sun	38	38	38	38	39	41	49	50	46	43	43	42	41	40	40	41	39