Interstate 5/Southern California

• 32.54419-117.032181 San Ysidro (Mile 0). Border crossing at the international border with Mexico at Tijuana.  (updated Jan 2016)

• North (NB); Camino de la Plaza (SB) (Exit 1A). Interstate 805 serves as a local auxiliary/by-pass highway that continues 32 mi (51 km) around to the eastside through the North Park, Mission Valley, Clairemont, and University City neighborhoods. It rejoins I-5 at Exit 32 in Sorrento Valley. If you miss this exit there are numerous east-west roads connecting the 5 to the 805 further north. The other exit 1A from the southbound lanes only goes into Camino de la Plaza which accesses the Las Americas Premium Outlets, San Ysidro Village Mall and the border station parking for those who plan to take a day trip into Tijuana by foot and not drive across the border. It is closer to the PedWest port of entry which is closer to Plaza Viva and downtown Tijuana than the main border crossing east of I-5. Last USA exit before the border crossing into Mexico for southbound travelers. (updated Jan 2016)
• Via de San Ysidro (Exit 1B). Accessible from both directions. Access to I-805 from the southbound lanes via W San Ysidro Blvd as there is no direct access to I-805 at Exit 1A from the southbound lanes.  (updated Aug 2022)
• 32.55851-117.0622592 San Ysidro Blvd, Dairy Mart Rd (NB); Dairy Mart Rd (SB) (Exit 2). Dairy Mart Rd goes south and then curves west as Monumental Rd to Border Field State Park (at the beach by the border) through International Park and the Tijuana River Reserve. North bound exits go into San Ysidro Blvd. Take a left on San Ysidro Blvd, after exit, to reach Dairy Mart Rd.
  
   (updated Aug 2026)
• East, Tocayo Ave (Exit 3). SR-905 goes east to the Otay Mesa border crossing (for trucks) and into Otay Mesa, an industrial neighborhood east of Tijuana. The road goes past I-805, the industrial Otay Mesa neighborhood on the American side, CBX airport terminal (access to Tijuana airport from the American side), and the Brown Field Airport. Going west of I-5, SR-905 ends and becomes Tocayo Ave. (updated Aug 2022)

• 32.6278-117.04813 Chula Vista (Exits 7A-9). There are five exits for Chula Vista.  (updated Mar 2016)
• 32.6781-117.09924 National City (Exits 10-12). There are four exits for National City.  (updated Mar 2016)
• 32.7157-117.16115 San Diego (Exits 13A-36). There are over thirty exits for San Diego.  (updated Mar 2016)

• Riverside (Interstate 15) (Exit 13A). Interstate 15 runs 1,433 mi (2,306 km) north from southern California to the Canadian border in Sweet Grass through Nevada, NW corner of Arizona, Utah, Idaho and Montana. The same highway continues another 108 km to Lethbridge AB as Hwy 4. It is the most convenient route for travelers going to the Inland Empire and Las Vegas and another way to reach the local communities of Miramar, Mira Mesa and Poway and to Escondido in North San Diego County from San Diego (proper). From here the exit is marked as State Route (SR) 15 which becomes I-15 north of its junction with I-8. For travelers moving towards Arizona, Texas or Florida it is more efficient to go east on I-8 to I-10 in Casa Grande, Arizona rather than continuing north on I-15/215 to I-10 in San Bernardino, Use I-40 from I-15 in Barstow for moving towards Tennessee. (updated Jun 2019)
• " San Diego Airport, Sassafras St" (SB Side); "Pacific Highway" (NB Side) (Exit 18A). Travelers going towards 32.7318-117.20241 San Diego International Airport (Limbaugh Field) from the northbound lanes would exit off at 17A just north of downtown San Diego.The rental car center can be reached through Washington St at Exit 19 from both directions. (updated Aug 2022)
• Washington St (Exit 18B).  (updated Aug 2022)
• Old Town Ave (Exit 19). Nearest access to Old Town San Diego from Interstate 5. (updated Aug 2022)
• East-El Centro (Exit 20). Interstate 8 begins/ends 2.5 mi (4.0 km) west of the I-5 corridor at its junction with Nimitz & Sunset Cliff Blvd. This western segment serves Point Loma, Ocean Beach, Mission Bay and the Sports Arena.
  
  I-8 goes 347 mi (558 km) east across the Cuyamaca Mountains, Imperial Valley and Sonoran Deserts to its junction with I-10 in Casa Grande, AZ. It passes through El Centro, Yuma and Gila Bend before reaching Casa Grande. Locally it crosses I-15/SR-15 (Exit 7); and serves Old Town (Taylor St & Hotel Circle @ Exit 3); Hotel Circle Template:Icon-lodging (Exits 3 & 4); Mission Valley; La Mesa (Exits 11-14); El Cajon (Exits 15-20) and Alpine (Exits 30 & 33) before heading up the Cuyamaca Mountains and into the Imperial Valley. Travelers going towards Phoenix can exit from I-8 at AZ-85 (AZ Exit 115) in Gila Bend and go north along AZ-85 to I-10 in Buckeye, west of Phoenix. Others going to the Mexican border at Mexicali can leave I-8 at CA-111 (Exit 118A) and go south on CA-111 into Calexico. (updated Aug 2026)
• Sea World Dr, Tecolote Road (Exit 21). Go west on Sea World Drive to reach Sea World at Mission Bay. Road continues past Sea World towards the beaches as W Mission Bay Dr and ends at its intersection with Mission Blvd in the Mission Beach neighborhood. (updated Aug 2022)

• 33.037-117.2926 Encinitas (Exits 39-41B). There are four exits for Encinitas.  (updated Mar 2016)
• 33.1581-117.35067 Carlsbad (Exits 43-51A). There are eight exits for Carlsbad.  (updated Mar 2016)
• 33.1959-117.37958 Oceanside (Exits 51B-54C). There are seven exits for Oceanside.  (updated Mar 2016)
• 33.26577-117.432972 Aliso Creek Rest Area (Exit 59 (northbound), Exit 60 (southbound) / Mile 59.87). Closed for maintenance Restrooms, water, picnic tables, phone, vending machines and RV sanitation station.  (updated Mar 2016)
• 33.3854-117.58319 Basilone Road (Exit 71 / Mile 71.3). There are a handful of fast food restaurants, a commissary, and a single gas station on the east side of the interstate, but these lie behind a gate to Camp Pendleton Marine Base and are thus off-limits to non-military travelers. Less than a mile south of this exit, San Onofre State Beach is publicly accessible and is a popular surfing spot that also offers camping. A short distance further south, the now-decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station is visible just west of the interstate; the station's twin spherical containment buildings famously inspired Frank Drebin in The Naked Gun to lament that "everywhere I look something reminds me of her", and many other comparisons to pairs of breasts.  (updated Mar 2016)

Past the Camp Pendleton Marine Base the interstate enters the large conurbation of cities in Orange and Los Angeles Counties. This section is multi-lane (3 to 8) in both directions and is busy with traffic at nearly all times of the day. If at all possible avoid driving at peak commuter times. Some drivers may be tempted to take Interstate 405 as an alternate route, but check traffic conditions before doing so as it is often even worse for traffic congestion.

• San Clemente (Exits 73-77). There are five exits for San Clemente. El Camino Real runs almost parallel to the highway and has a number of restaurants, many of which are Mexican.  (updated Jan 2016)
• Dana Point (Exits 78-79). There are two exits for Dana Point. (updated Mar 2016)
• 0-117.65845210 San Juan Capistrano (Exits 81-83). There are three exits for San Juan Capistrano. Mission San Juan Capistrano and the Los Rios area are a couple blocks west of Exit 82.  (updated Aug 2026)
• Mission Viejo (Exits 85A-88). There are four exits for Mission Viejo. (updated Mar 2016)
• Laguna Hills (Exits 89-92). There are four exits for Laguna Hills. (updated Mar 2016)
• Irvine (Exits 94-100). There are eight exits for Irvine. (updated Mar 2016)

• 33.677684-117.75827211 Sand Canyon, Old Town, East Irvine (Exit 96 / Mile 96.22). In addition to the chance to have a Knowlwood Burger in a building built in 1900, check out the 19th-century Irvine Bean and Growers Association Building.  (updated Jan 2016)

• Tustin (Exits 101-103). There are four exits for Tustin. (updated Mar 2016)
• Santa Ana (Exits 103-105). There are five exits for Santa Ana. (updated Mar 2016)
• 33.818088-117.91803812 Anaheim (Exits 109-113). There are seven exits for Anaheim. The Harbor Blvd and Disneyland Drive exits serve Disneyland.  (updated Aug 2026)
• 33.858949-117.99803613 Buena Park (Exit 116 / Mile 115.71). On Beach Blvd there is the Knotts Berry Farm Amusement Park and a number of chain hotels and restaurants such as Fuddruckers.  (updated Jan 2016)
• La Mirada (Exits 117-118)
• Norwalk and Santa Fe Springs (Exits 119-123)
• Downey (Exits 123-126A)
• 0-118.15677714 City of Commerce (Exits 126B-130B). Exit here for the Citadel Outlet Mall  (updated Aug 2026)
• 0-118.21420515 Los Angeles (Exits 132 through 144). Interstate 5 goes through the Eastside and Northwest of Los Angeles, mostly parallel to the L.A. River. Take the 10, 101, or 110, or exit 4th Street to access Downtown. (updated Aug 2026)
  • . Interstate 10 travels west to Santa Monica and east to San Bernardino. (updated Aug 2022)
• Glendale (California) (Exits 140B to 145A)
• 34.185232-118.31789716 Burbank (Exits 145B to 149). Shopping and hotels in Downtown Burbank. Access to the Burbank Airport  (updated Aug 2026)
• 34.266252-118.44304417 North Valley/San Fernando (Exits 149 to 161).  (updated Aug 2026)
• Santa Clarita (Exits 163-172). There are eight exits for Santa Clarita. (updated Mar 2016)
  • 34.4232-118.583318 Magic Mountain Parkway (Exit 170 / Mile 170.23). The famous Magic Mountain amusement park is along the western side of the freeway and is home to roller coasters that have held world records for height and speed; freeway travelers will have an excellent view of thrill seekers taking the plunge over one of the many terrifying hills on the park's iconic rides. There are gas stations, chain restaurants and hotels at the exit that cater to park visitors, but expect heavier than normal traffic in the area during the summer when the park is busiest.  (updated Mar 2016)

• 34.495923-118.62390119 Castaic (Exit 176 / Mile 176.15).  (updated Jan 2016)

The road climbs out of the San Fernando Valley, which although multi-lane will have slow-moving traffic before entering the Santa Clarita Valley. Oddly, at one point the north and south bound carriageways cross and run for a number of miles separate from one another. This is often closed during snow storms when driving conditions become treacherous. Due to steep grades, it is common for big rig trucks to "jack-knife" on this stretch. The highway descends at a sharp six percent grade through a curving path within Grapevine Canyon from Lebec down to the Central Valley. The original route was infamous for its accidents until being straightened and widened between 1933-34.

• 34.8395-118.863220 Frazier Mountain Park Road, Frazier Park (Exit 205 / Mile 205.2).  
• 34.82699-118.87223 Tejon Pass Rest Area (Exit 206 / Mile 205.97). Restrooms, water, picnic tables, phone, vending machines and RV sanitation station. The summit of Tejon Pass is 4,160 feet.  (updated Mar 2016)
• 34.874314-118.89172521 Fort Tejon (exit 210/Mile 210.29). Exit for historic Fort Tejon, historic military post