Gaslamp parties, then a La Jolla coast walk
This is leg 1 of 1, the opening leg.
Travel leg · San Diego New Year's Eve
Downtown San Diego & Gaslamp Quarter to La Jolla
Downtown San Diego & Gaslamp Quarter and La Jolla sit about 18 km (11 mi) apart in a straight line, with La Jolla to the north-west. It is leg 1 of 1 on our San Diego New Year's Eve itinerary, a 3-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 18 km · 11 mi
- Est. road distance
- 22–25 km
- Est. drive time
- 30 min – 1 h
- Direction
- Heading north-west
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 25–45 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our San Diego New Year's Eve itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 22–25 km (13–16 mi) of road and 30 min – 1 h behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
Downtown is walkable, and the Gaslamp Quarter is a short walk from the Embarcadero and Petco Park; check MTS for extended trolley service on New Year's Eve. Rideshare surges and Gaslamp streets jam after midnight, so book a room within walking distance of your party. Coronado is a 15-minute ferry ride or a drive over the Coronado Bridge. La Jolla is 25 minutes north by car on I-5; street parking near the Cove fills by 10 am, and Torrey Pines charges for its beach and upper lots.
Open Downtown San Diego → La Jolla directions in Google Maps ↗
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in La Jolla
Seaside village on sandstone cliffs; New Year's Day for breakfast, sea lions and a coastal walk.
Children's Pool
A 1931 seawall beach now used by harbor seals, which haul out on the sand in large numbers in winter.
The Cottage
Breakfast and brunch spot in a small cottage with a patio in the village, open for more than thirty years.
La Jolla Cove
Small sheltered beach below the cliffs, part of an underwater reserve, where sea lions sprawl on the rocks.
George's at the Cove
Long-running restaurant above the Cove with three levels, including the open-air Ocean Terrace.
The Marine Room
Dining room at the edge of La Jolla Shores where high-tide waves break against the windows.
La Jolla Shores
A mile of flat, wide sand north of the village, the calmest beach in La Jolla for a walk or a swim.
Before you leave Downtown San Diego & Gaslamp Quarter
Victorian streets of bars and hotel rooftops by the bay; 2 nights for parties, dinner and Coronado.
Gaslamp Quarter
Sixteen blocks of Victorian-era buildings along Fifth Avenue, full of bars, clubs and restaurants.
Hard Rock Hotel San Diego
Gaslamp hotel that throws one of the city's biggest New Year's Eve parties across several floors and its rooftop.
USS Midway Museum
Aircraft carrier turned museum on the Navy Pier, with about 30 restored aircraft on the flight deck.
On this curated route
Where Downtown San Diego → La Jolla sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? La Jolla to Downtown San Diego & Gaslamp Quarter is the same 18 km in a straight line, heading south-east. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Downtown San Diego to La Jolla: questions travelers ask
How far is Downtown San Diego & Gaslamp Quarter from La Jolla?
Downtown San Diego & Gaslamp Quarter is about 18 km (11 mi) from La Jolla in a straight line, with La Jolla to the north-west. By road, we estimate 22–25 km (13–16 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Downtown San Diego & Gaslamp Quarter to La Jolla?
An estimated 30 min – 1 h, assuming 22–25 km of road at average speeds of 25–45 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Downtown San Diego & Gaslamp Quarter to La Jolla?
Our San Diego New Year's Eve itinerary includes this leg. San Diego New Year's Eve runs about 3 days across 2 stops, best in Dec 30 – Jan 1.
Guides for both ends
- Downtown San Diego & Gaslamp Quarter travel guide
- Downtown San Diego & Gaslamp Quarter weather best time to visit
- La Jolla travel guide
- La Jolla weather best time to visit
La Jolla by month
Plan Downtown San Diego → La Jolla with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.