How Bad is San Diego Traffic?
While San Diego has fairly mild traffic conditions, you can still expect to get slowdowns between 6:30–8:30 a.m. and 4–6:30 p.m.
Written by Holden Easterbrook
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Table of Contents
- How bad is San Diego traffic?
- Why is San Diego traffic so bad?
- How to navigate San Diego traffic
- Prepare for San Diego traffic by updating your car insurance
- FAQs
Load full table of contents
Despite its size, San Diego has a slightly shorter one-way commute time when compared with the national average. Even so, you’ll want to try to avoid the freeways between the hours of 6:30–8:30 a.m. and 4–6:30 p.m.
Between its beautiful beaches, a world-famous zoo, and several other attractions, it’s no wonder that San Diego suffers from traffic problems from time to time.
Luckily, you can avoid the worst of the city’s roadway congestion with the help of the
car insurance
super app Jerry
. Check out the rest of this article to get an idea of how bad San Diego’s traffic is, what causes it, and how best to avoid getting caught in a rush-hour traffic jam. Stick with us to the end to learn how to save money on San Diego car insurance costs
.How bad is San Diego traffic?
When stacked against other major cities in the United States, San Diego ranks 19th in the nation for roadway congestion. Though it's certainly better than other urban areas like
Atlanta
or New York City
, San Diego drivers can expect to spend around 32 hours sitting in traffic jams every year.MORE: The best type of car insurance to get if you commute long distances
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ insurance companies with Jerry in under 45 seconds
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ insurance companies with Jerry in under 45 seconds
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversWhy is San Diego traffic so bad?
There are a lot of factors that play a part in any city’s traffic problems—total driving population, infrastructure design, and even something as seemingly minor as the residents’ driving habits. While any one of these factors wouldn’t bog down traffic on its own, the combination of them can bring freeways and highways to a stand-still.
Driving population
Nearly 1.5 million people live in San Diego, with 76% of them choosing to drive or carpool to work every day. With over a million cars hitting the road, and many of them doing so around the same time, that means plenty of congestion due to accidents and poor traffic flow.
Major bottlenecks
The freeways are by and far the hardest hit by traffic jams in the San Diego area. Some of the most common spots for backed-up traffic include:
- I-15 near DeerSprings, E St., Manchester, and Sea World
- I-8 near Waring
- I-805 near I-15, I-8, E St, and Governor
- SR 52 near Mast
- SR 78 near Barham
- SR 905 near I-805
MORE:
Driving habits
In 2016 alone, there were more than 20,000 car accidents in San Diego county. The causes of the accidents range from
driving under the influence (DUI)
to distracted driving
, but with so many people on the roads every day, just a single collision can have traffic backed up for miles.Luckily, to offset this problem, San Diego residents have an average commute time that’s 10% shorter than the national average. While that won’t stop people from checking their phones behind the wheel, it does mean you might be able to get to your destination before encountering the results of distracted or poor driving.
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How to navigate San Diego traffic
When it comes to driving in San Diego, planning can save you a lot of unnecessary headaches and frustration. If you can, you should always:
- Stay off the roads during rush hour. You’ll see the most drivers (and the worst congestion) during peak commuting hours. On the weekdays, these periods will be between 6:30–8:30 a.m. and 4–6:30 p.m.
- Avoid the freeways when possible. Though they can get you across the city quickly, freeways are easily brought to a stand-still by a single accident. Whenever possible, you should take back roads to reach your destination.
- Stay up-to-date on traffic conditions. Knowing where traffic is backed up can keep you from sitting on the freeway. Several apps can help youavoid traffic jams, but local radio stations like Newsradio 600 KOGO can inform you of accidents and lane closures across the city.
- Keep your eyes on the road. Just being aware while driving can save you several hours of drive-time every year. Keep an eye out for slowed or stopped cars ahead, and try to find an alternative route before you find yourself stuck in miles of backed-up traffic.
Prepare for San Diego traffic by updating your car insurance
Whether you’re just visiting the city or a daily commuter, you’ll want to know you’re safe from the sort of accidents that bring traffic to a standstill. The #1 way to ensure your peace of mind is by getting the best car insurance coverage available at the bestprice possible, and the
Jerry
app can do just that.As a licensed insurance broker, the Jerry super app will find you the most affordable
car insurance quotes
from a pool of more than 50 insurance providers. You don’t have to wait on hold or fill out stacks of paperwork—just download the trustworthy super app
, answer a brief questionnaire, and wait for less than two minutes for your quote options.The average Jerry user saves as much as $887 on their annual
car insurance
costs, so don’t delay. Get the Jerry app today and get the peace of mind you need when tackling San Diego’s traffic!“Jerryquoted me a price that saved me almost $4000 a year in California! I definitely recommend Jerry.” —Patricia B.
"I’m earning
awesome rewards
every week, just for driving safe!”
Patricia W.
Reviewed on 5/28/2023
FAQs
Is San Diego hard to drive in?
To get around in San Diego, you’ll eventually have to use the local freeways. While they aren’t as difficult to handle as the freeways in areas like Los Angeles, they can still be a challenge for most drivers.
What is the best time to drive through San Diego?
To avoid the worst of San Diego’s traffic, you’ll want to avoid driving between the times of 6:30–8:30 a.m. and 4–6:30 p.m
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