San Diego to Las Vegas distance
San Diego and Las Vegas are 265 miles (426 km) apart in a straight line and 331 miles (533 km) apart by road: about 6 hr 5 min of driving without stops, mostly on I-15 and I-215. Below you’ll find the route map, both halfway points, the bearing and where every figure comes from.
By the Mapsfera Team
- By road
- 331 mi (533 km)
- Driving time
- 6 hr 5 min
- Straight line
- 265 mi (426 km)
- Driving route
- Straight line
- Straight-line midpoint
- Halfway by road
Lambert azimuthal equal-area projection centered on the midpoint. Route: FOSSGIS OSRM with data © OpenStreetMap contributors, calculated on October 31, 2026; simplified line.
The figures
| Figure | Value |
|---|---|
| Straight line | 265 mi (426 km) geodesic on the WGS84 ellipsoid |
| By road | 331 mi (533 km) fastest driving route (OSRM) |
| Driving time | 6 hr 5 min no stops, no traffic |
| Road detour | +25% 1.25 times the straight line |
| Average speed | 54 mph (87 km/h) along the route, without stops |
| Bearing | 25° (northeast) leaving San Diego toward Las Vegas |
| Midpoint | 34.4496° N, 116.1681° W near Homestead Valley (California) |
| Halfway by road | Near Yermo (California) 166 mi from each city by road |
| Time difference | None both share the same time |
| Elevation | San Diego: 63 ft (19 m) · Las Vegas: 1,996 ft (608 m) USGS 3DEP |
| Population | San Diego: 1,406,106 · Las Vegas: 679,817 Census Bureau estimate for 2025 |
San Diego to Las Vegas by road
The fastest driving route is 331 miles (533 km) long and takes about 6 hr 5 min without stops or traffic. It runs mostly on I-15 (263 mi) and I-215 (55.1 mi).
It goes through 2 states: California (287 mi) and Nevada (44.0 mi). That’s an average of 54 mph (87 km/h). AAA recommends a break every two hours or 100 miles: with 3 stops of 20 minutes, the trip takes about 7 hr 5 min. The time is OSRM’s estimate with OpenStreetMap data: no traffic and speeds somewhat below the limits, so real trips can differ.
Straight-line distance and bearing
In a straight line, the shortest distance over the Earth’s surface, San Diego and Las Vegas are 265 miles (426 km) apart. That’s the geodesic on the WGS84 ellipsoid, the distance “as the crow flies”.
The road is 25% longer: for every 100 miles in a straight line you drive 125. That’s a normal detour between two cities. Of the 40 US pairs in this series, it ranks 4th for detour (the average is 14%).
From San Diego, Las Vegas lies to the northeast (bearing 25°), and from Las Vegas, San Diego lies to the southwest.
Halfway between San Diego and Las Vegas
Halfway along the straight line, 132 miles (213 km) from each city, is the point 34.4496° N, 116.1681° W. It falls near Homestead Valley (California, pop. 2,689), 18.6 mi away. The nearest town of 20,000 people or more is French Valley (California, pop. 45,269), 79.6 mi away.
By road, the halfway point is 166 miles (267 km) from each city, near Yermo (California, pop. 958), 18.3 mi away. The nearest town of 20,000 people or more is Temescal Valley (California, pop. 30,069), 74.2 mi away. The two midpoints are 59.0 mi apart: if you want to meet halfway, the one on the road is the useful one.
Time zone and flight
San Diego and Las Vegas share the same time all year: both are on Pacific Time.
No flight time is given: under 500 km (311 miles) in a straight line, time at the airport outweighs time in the air.
The two cities
San Diego sits at 63 ft (19 m) and Las Vegas at 1,996 ft (608 m), 1,933 ft (589 m) higher.
San Diego has 1.4 million people and Las Vegas 679,817 people (Census Bureau estimate for 2025).
Frequently asked questions
How many miles is it from San Diego to Las Vegas?
265 miles (426 km) in a straight line and 331 miles (533 km) by road on the fastest route (mostly on I-15 and I-215).
How long is the drive from San Diego to Las Vegas?
About 6 hr 5 min without stops or traffic, according to OSRM with OpenStreetMap data; with 3 stops of 20 minutes, about 7 hr 5 min.
Where is the halfway point between San Diego and Las Vegas?
In a straight line, near Homestead Valley (California). By road, 166 mi from each city, near Yermo (California).
Are San Diego and Las Vegas in the same time zone?
Yes: both are on Pacific Time all year.
Which city is higher, San Diego or Las Vegas?
Las Vegas, at 1,996 ft (608 m); San Diego sits at 63 ft (19 m).
Measure it yourself on the map
The same two cities, already set up in the tools: move the points, get the route by bike or on foot and download the map.
- Distance between two points Measure the distance between any two places or points on the map, in miles or kilometers.
- Straight line vs driving distance Compare the as-the-crow-flies distance with the real driving distance and see how much the road adds.
- Halfway point Find the exact halfway point between two places and see it on the map, ready to share.
More distances from San Diego
All distancesMore distances from Las Vegas
Sources
- Driving route: FOSSGIS OSRM, car profile (calculated on October 31, 2026) · FOSSGIS e.V.
- Roads, streets and places · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
- Straight line, bearings and midpoint (geodesics on the WGS84 ellipsoid) · GeographicLib (C. F. F. Karney)
- US city centers (GNIS) and their elevation (3DEP) · USGS (public domain)
- Population estimates, Vintage 2025 · US Census Bureau (public domain)
- Places near the midpoints: Mapsfera gazetteer (GeoNames, INE, IGN and Census) · Mapsfera
- Time zones (timezone-boundary-builder outlines and the IANA database) · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
- Map: provinces (IGN), states (US Census Bureau) and countries (Natural Earth) · IGN, Census and Natural Earth
- Methodology