Next 7 departures
- SatOct 3
HighGusts to 41 mph near I-8 northwest of Boulevard around 8 AM PDT. Also at 4 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Diego7 AM PDT Sunny78°F I-8 northwest of Boulevard8 AM PDT Mostly sunny70°F El Centro8:45 AM PDT Sunny80°F Yuma9:30 AM MST Sunny86°F Telegraph Pass10 AM MST Sunny84°F Dateland10:30 AM MST Sunny86°F Gila Bend11:15 AM MST Sunny87°F Phoenix12:30 PM MST Sunny92°F - SunOct 4
HighGusts to 40 mph near Telegraph Pass around 10 AM MST. Also at 4 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Diego7 AM PDT Mostly sunny78°F I-8 northwest of Boulevard8 AM PDT Mostly sunny71°F El Centro8:45 AM PDT Sunny80°F Yuma9:30 AM MST Sunny85°F Telegraph Pass10 AM MST Sunny84°F Dateland10:30 AM MST Sunny88°F Gila Bend11:15 AM MST Sunny91°F Phoenix12:30 PM MST Sunny95°F - MonOct 5
CautionGusts to 33 mph near Telegraph Pass around 10 AM MST. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Diego7 AM PDT Mostly sunny78°F I-8 northwest of Boulevard8 AM PDT Sunny71°F El Centro8:45 AM PDT Sunny82°F Yuma9:30 AM MST Sunny86°F Telegraph Pass10 AM MST Sunny85°F Dateland10:30 AM MST Sunny87°F Gila Bend11:15 AM MST Sunny89°F Phoenix12:30 PM MST Sunny94°F - TueOct 6
CautionNear 90°F near Gila Bend around 11:15 AM MST. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Diego7 AM PDT Mostly sunny77°F I-8 northwest of Boulevard8 AM PDT Sunny71°F El Centro8:45 AM PDT Sunny82°F Yuma9:30 AM MST Sunny87°F Telegraph Pass10 AM MST Mostly sunny86°F Dateland10:30 AM MST Mostly sunny88°F Gila Bend11:15 AM MST Sunny90°F Phoenix12:30 PM MST Sunny93°F - WedOct 7
CautionNear 93°F near Gila Bend around 11:15 AM MST. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Diego7 AM PDT Mostly sunny76°F I-8 northwest of Boulevard8 AM PDT Sunny72°F El Centro8:45 AM PDT Sunny82°F Yuma9:30 AM MST Sunny87°F Telegraph Pass10 AM MST Sunny87°F Dateland10:30 AM MST Sunny89°F Gila Bend11:15 AM MST Sunny93°F Phoenix12:30 PM MST Sunny95°F - ThuOct 8
CautionNear 91°F near Dateland around 10:30 AM MST. Also at 2 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Diego7 AM PDT Mostly sunny74°F I-8 northwest of Boulevard8 AM PDT Sunny73°F El Centro8:45 AM PDT Sunny83°F Yuma9:30 AM MST Sunny88°F Telegraph Pass10 AM MST Sunny89°F Dateland10:30 AM MST Sunny91°F Gila Bend11:15 AM MST Sunny94°F Phoenix12:30 PM MST Sunny97°F - FriOct 9
CautionNear 90°F near Dateland around 10:30 AM MST. Also at 2 other checkpoints.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature San Diego7 AM PDT Partly sunny74°F I-8 northwest of Boulevard8 AM PDT Sunny72°F El Centro8:45 AM PDT Sunny82°F Yuma9:30 AM MST Sunny87°F Telegraph Pass10 AM MST Sunny87°F Dateland10:30 AM MST Sunny90°F Gila Bend11:15 AM MST Sunny92°F Phoenix12:30 PM MST Sunny95°F
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from San Diego (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- San Diego, CAStart 41 ftelevation
- I-8 northwest of Boulevard, CAMile 58 · 54 min 4,183 ftelevation
- El Centro, CAMile 112 · 1 h 45 min -42 ftelevation
- Yuma, AZMile 170 · 2 h 37 min 153 ftelevation
- Telegraph Pass, AZMountain pass · Mile 187 · 2 h 53 min 508 ftelevation
- Dateland, AZMile 237 · 3 h 37 min 447 ftelevation
- Gila Bend, AZMile 286 · 4 h 20 min 735 ftelevation
- Phoenix, AZMile 356 · 5 h 33 min 1,088 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at San Diego, Gila Bend and Phoenix.
| Month | San Diego 15 ft | Gila Bend 794 ft | Phoenix 1,107 ft | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | |
| Jan | 66° / 50° | 71° / 41° | 0 | 68° / 46° |
| Feb | 66° / 52° | 75° / 44° | 0 | 71° / 49° |
| Mar | 67° / 55° | 82° / 49° | 0 | 78° / 55° |
| Apr | 69° / 57° | 90° / 55° | 0 | 86° / 61° |
| May | 70° / 60° | 98° / 63° | 0 | 95° / 70° |
| Jun | 72° / 63° | 107° / 72° | 0 | 104° / 79° |
| Jul | 75° / 66° | 109° / 81° | 0 | 107° / 85° |
| Aug | 77° / 68° | 109° / 81° | 0 | 105° / 84° |
| Sep | 77° / 66° | 104° / 74° | 0 | 100° / 78° |
| Oct | 75° / 62° | 93° / 60° | 0 | 89° / 66° |
| Nov | 71° / 55° | 80° / 48° | 0 | 77° / 54° |
| Dec | 66° / 50° | 70° / 40° | 0 | 66° / 45° |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: SAN DIEGO LINDBERGH FLD (USW00023188, 15 ft); GILA BEND 2SE (USC00023393, 794 ft); PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTL AP (USW00023183, 1,107 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for California and Arizona rather than repeat them.
- California · CaltransQuickMap conditions and cameras
- California · winter rulesChain controls
- Arizona · ADOTAZ511 road conditions
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from San Diego to Phoenix with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from San Diego to Phoenix?
356 miles, about 5½ hours of driving without stops, by way of I-8. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
On I-8 northwest of Boulevard, at 4,183 ft. It comes at mile 58, about 54 min of driving after you leave San Diego.
How cold is Phoenix in January?
Phoenix averages a high of 68°F and a low of 46°F in January (1991–2020 normals).