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What is the best route from Philadelphia to San Diego?

I’m thinking about doing a road trip across the country to visit my parents in San Diego. If I’m starting in Philadelphia, what route should I take?

avatar
Sean Boehme · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
I don’t think there is any better way to experience the U.S. than a cross-country trip. Here is a look at a great route that starts in
Philadelphia
and ends in
San Diego
.
Driving from Philadelphia to San Diego is no easy task, so you can expect the trip to take at least 40 hours
without any traffic
. As a good rule of thumb, you should only drive about 8 hours a day, so you’ll need to plan at least 4 or 5 overnight stops, as well.
To get started, head west out of Philly until your hit
Pittsburgh
, and then start going north. You’ll then have the chance to go city to city, passing by:
You’ll also have the opportunity to check out
Los Angeles
before eventually making your way south to San Diego. Although this route isn’t necessarily the fastest, it will allow you to see multiple big cities and drive through some of the country’s most beautiful states.
If you’re going to be going on such a long trip, make sure you take plenty of breaks to avoid losing focus. You should also make sure to pack all the
road trip essentials
you might need.
Jerry
is a car insurance comparison app that can help you find affordable coverage for your car, so you should download the app before starting your trip. On average, Jerry users save over $800 each year on their auto coverage.
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