Best Time to Drive from Vista to La Mesa

Right now (5:50 pm PDT): about 44 minutes via I-15 South, usually 43 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.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from Vista to La Mesa 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	42	45	55	65	50	46	46	46	46	47	56	58	51	44	43	43	43
Tue	42	46	62	75	60	49	46	45	46	49	59	61	60	48	43	43	42
Wed	42	46	59	69	57	47	46	45	46	49	60	63	59	48	44	43	43
Thu	42	47	59	69	56	46	46	45	46	49	59	62	60	48	43	43	43
Fri	42	46	52	56	46	46	46	46	46	52	59	59	50	44	44	43	42
Sat	43	44	44	44	44	44	44	44	46	45	44	44	44	43	43	43	43
Sun	43	43	43	43	43	43	44	44	44	44	43	43	43	43	44	43	42

About this drive

On weekdays the 42-mile drive from Vista to La Mesa (via I-15 South) usually takes as little as 42 minutes and up to 75 minutes, when leaving around 8 am on Tuesdays. The fastest times to leave are before 6:30 am or after 6:30 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 46 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 1 pm on Saturdays (46 minutes).

About 35 miles of it is freeway, where times follow typical and live traffic from our sensors, and about 7 miles surface streets (8 to 20 minutes on weekdays), estimated from how jammed the freeways around them are at that time. Drive times are measured from central Vista to central La Mesa 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 Vista to La Mesa?

On weekdays, leave before 6:30 am or after 6:30 pm. The drive usually takes about 42 minutes then, versus up to 75 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from Vista to La Mesa?

The 42-mile drive usually takes 42 to 75 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 46 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from Vista to La Mesa?

Leaving around 8 am on Tuesdays is usually slowest, about 75 minutes.

Freeways on this drive

I-15 South in San Diego (29 miles) · I-8 East in San Diego (5 miles) · SR-163 South in San Diego (1.6 miles)

San Diego traffic right now · San Diego traffic tomorrow

More drives

La Mesa to Vista (return trip) · Vista to San Diego · Vista to Long Beach · Vista to Anaheim · Vista to Riverside · Vista to Santa Ana · Vista to Santa Monica · Vista to Chula Vista · Vista to Irvine · Vista to San Bernardino · Vista to Fontana · Vista to Moreno Valley

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	42	45	55	65	50	46	46	46	46	47	56	58	51	44	43	43	43
Tue	42	46	62	75	60	49	46	45	46	49	59	61	60	48	43	43	42
Wed	42	46	59	69	57	47	46	45	46	49	60	63	59	48	44	43	43
Thu	42	47	59	69	56	46	46	45	46	49	59	62	60	48	43	43	43
Fri	42	46	52	56	46	46	46	46	46	52	59	59	50	44	44	43	42
Sat	43	44	44	44	44	44	44	44	46	45	44	44	44	43	43	43	43
Sun	43	43	43	43	43	43	44	44	44	44	43	43	43	43	44	43	42

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	42	45	55	65	50	46	46	46	46	47	56	58	51	44	43	43	43
Tue	42	46	62	75	60	49	46	45	46	49	59	61	60	48	43	43	42
Wed	42	46	59	69	57	47	46	45	46	49	60	63	59	48	44	43	43
Thu	42	47	59	69	56	46	46	45	46	49	59	62	60	48	43	43	43
Fri	42	46	52	56	46	46	46	46	46	52	59	59	50	44	44	43	42
Sat	43	44	44	44	44	44	44	44	46	45	44	44	44	43	43	43	43
Sun	43	43	43	43	43	43	44	44	44	44	43	43	43	43	44	43	42

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	42	45	55	65	50	46	46	46	46	47	56	58	51	44	43	43	43
Tue	42	46	62	75	60	49	46	45	46	49	59	61	60	48	43	43	42
Wed	42	46	59	69	57	47	46	45	46	49	60	63	59	48	44	43	43
Thu	42	47	59	69	56	46	46	45	46	49	59	62	60	48	43	43	43
Fri	42	46	52	56	46	46	46	46	46	52	59	59	50	44	44	43	42
Sat	43	44	44	44	44	44	44	44	46	45	44	44	44	43	43	43	43
Sun	43	43	43	43	43	43	44	44	44	44	43	43	43	43	44	43	42