Big Sur to San Diego: Road Trip Guide & Distance

361 miles 580.9 km · straight line
418.4 miles actual route 673.4 km · driving distance
8h 39min estimated drive time
$40 - $50 estimated fuel cost
~1h 14min flight time
132° SE bearing direction

How far is Big Sur from San Diego?

The distance from Big Sur to San Diego is 361 miles (580.9 km) as the crow flies. San Diego is located SE of Big Sur. By car, the driving distance is approximately 418.4 miles, taking about 8h 39min. A direct flight would take roughly 1h 14min. Both are located in United States.

This is a solid day of driving. Be sure to take breaks every 2-3 hours to avoid driver fatigue, and plan your meals ahead of time. Heading East means you'll be driving into the sunrise if you start early. Keep your windshield clean for the best visibility.

Coordinates come from public place data for Big Sur and San Diego. The driving distance uses an OSRM road-route result when route data is available. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.

How to Get from Big Sur to San Diego

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 8h 39min $40 - $50 Flexible stops
Fly ~1h 14min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~10h 23min $33–$63* Budget
Train ~8h 13min $50–$146* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Big Sur & San Diego

Quick Facts

Big Sur
36.27°N, 121.81°W
America/Los_Angeles
152m elevation
San Diego
32.72°N, 117.16°W
America/Los_Angeles
20m elevation
Explore more routes from San Diego

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 120 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 30 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 69 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · OSRM