Best Time to Drive from Temecula to El Cajon

Right now (9:35 pm PST): about 53 minutes via I-15 South, usually 53 at this time.

Only 53% 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.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Temecula to El Cajon 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	53	60	72	72	59	57	57	56	57	58	61	62	59	55	54	54	53
Tue	53	60	77	82	66	58	57	56	57	59	61	60	60	57	54	54	53
Wed	54	60	76	76	64	57	56	56	57	59	62	61	60	57	54	54	54
Thu	54	60	77	74	62	57	56	56	57	60	62	60	60	56	54	54	54
Fri	54	59	63	60	56	57	56	56	58	61	63	61	58	55	55	54	53
Sat	54	55	55	55	55	55	56	57	57	57	56	55	55	54	55	54	54
Sun	54	54	54	54	54	55	55	56	55	55	55	55	55	55	55	55	54

About this drive

On weekdays the 61-mile drive from Temecula to El Cajon (via I-15 South) usually takes as little as 53 minutes and up to 83 minutes, when leaving around 7:30 am on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6 am or after 5:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 57 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 1 pm on Saturdays (57 minutes).

About 59 miles of it is freeway, where times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors, and about 2 miles surface streets (2 to 4 minutes on weekdays), estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time. Drive times are measured from central Temecula to central El Cajon along the route on the map. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

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 Temecula to El Cajon?

On weekdays, leave before 6 am or after 5:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 53 minutes then, versus up to 83 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Temecula to El Cajon?

The 61-mile drive usually takes 53 to 83 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 57 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Temecula to El Cajon?

Leaving around 7:30 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 83 minutes.

Freeways on this drive

I-15 South in San Diego (39 miles) · SR-52 East in San Diego (9 miles) · I-15 South in Inland Empire (7 miles) · SR-163 South in San Diego (3 miles)

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

More drives

El Cajon to Temecula (return trip) · Temecula to Long Beach · Temecula to West Covina · Temecula to El Monte · Temecula to Downey · Temecula to Whittier · Temecula to Irvine · Temecula to Santa Ana · Temecula to Huntington Beach · Temecula to Riverside · Temecula to San Bernardino · Temecula to Ontario

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	53	60	72	72	59	57	57	56	57	58	61	62	59	55	54	54	53
Tue	53	60	77	82	66	58	57	56	57	59	61	60	60	57	54	54	53
Wed	54	60	76	76	64	57	56	56	57	59	62	61	60	57	54	54	54
Thu	54	60	77	74	62	57	56	56	57	60	62	60	60	56	54	54	54
Fri	54	59	63	60	56	57	56	56	58	61	63	61	58	55	55	54	53
Sat	54	55	55	55	55	55	56	57	57	57	56	55	55	54	55	54	54
Sun	54	54	54	54	54	55	55	56	55	55	55	55	55	55	55	55	54

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	53	60	72	72	59	57	57	56	57	58	61	62	59	55	54	54	53
Tue	53	60	77	82	66	58	57	56	57	59	61	60	60	57	54	54	53
Wed	54	60	76	76	64	57	56	56	57	59	62	61	60	57	54	54	54
Thu	54	60	77	74	62	57	56	56	57	60	62	60	60	56	54	54	54
Fri	54	59	63	60	56	57	56	56	58	61	63	61	58	55	55	54	53
Sat	54	55	55	55	55	55	56	57	57	57	56	55	55	54	55	54	54
Sun	54	54	54	54	54	55	55	56	55	55	55	55	55	55	55	55	54

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	53	60	72	72	59	57	57	56	57	58	61	62	59	55	54	54	53
Tue	53	60	77	82	66	58	57	56	57	59	61	60	60	57	54	54	53
Wed	54	60	76	76	64	57	56	56	57	59	62	61	60	57	54	54	54
Thu	54	60	77	74	62	57	56	56	57	60	62	60	60	56	54	54	54
Fri	54	59	63	60	56	57	56	56	58	61	63	61	58	55	55	54	53
Sat	54	55	55	55	55	55	56	57	57	57	56	55	55	54	55	54	54
Sun	54	54	54	54	54	55	55	56	55	55	55	55	55	55	55	55	54