The distance between San Diego and Los Angeles is approximately 120 miles (193 kilometers) by road. The straight-line flight distance is about 111 miles (179 kilometers)
. Driving between the two cities typically takes around 2 to 2.5 hours without heavy traffic, with the fastest driving time being about 2 hours and 6 minutes
. The most common driving route is via Interstate 5, which offers a scenic coastal drive. Other travel options include:
- Train (Amtrak Pacific Surfliner), taking about 2 hours 54 minutes to 2 hours 56 minutes
- Bus, which takes roughly 3 hours 50 minutes from San Diego to Los Angeles and about 2 hours 55 minutes in the reverse direction
- Flights between San Diego International Airport (SAN) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), with an average flight time around 55 minutes to 2 hours 51 minutes depending on connections and delays
In summary, San Diego is about 120 miles from Los Angeles by road, with travel times ranging from 2 hours by car to about 3 hours by train or bus. Flying is fastest in the air but includes additional time for airport procedures
