The Cost of a Road Trip Between Bonsall, California, and Del Monte Forest, California

Are you planning a road trip between Bonsall and Del Monte Forest, California, and curious about the cost of driving? Several routes can take you from southern to northern California. The cost of a road trip primarily depends on the gas prices per gallon, distance, and whether you stop for food or hotel accommodations. In this article, we will outline the possible routes, the cost, and which route we recommend to help make the most of your trip.

Route Options

You can take three common routes from Bonsall, California, to Del Monte Forest, California, largely depending on whether you want to drive along the coast or through the central valley.

Route 1: Via I-5 S

The first route is the most direct but also, arguably, the least scenic. Driving via I-5 S takes a little over 6 hours in total and covers 437 miles. The first half of the drive takes you through the dryness of Southern California through the Tejon Pass (4,144 feet), and through the Central Valley of California, which can be quite hot. The second half takes you through cities like San Jose, Los Gatos, Santa Cruz untill you reach Del Monte Forest.

Route 2: Via US-101 N

If you prefer a more scenic route, driving via US-101N offers breathtaking views. Traveling through Santa Barbara, the San Luis Obispo wine country, and scenic Big Sur. At around 402 miles and taking just north of 9 hours to drive, this route takes longer than Route 1. Fuel costs may also be higher due to a few mountainous stretches of the drive. While longer, this route allows you to spend more time with coastal views and parks which can add to the experience.

Route 3: Via I-15 N and CA-58 W

The final route is the longest and most indirect. Unfortunately, this route doesn’t offer much in the way of scenic views. However, driving via I-15 N and CA-58 W allows you to bypass Los Angeles and drive directly through a section of the Central Valley without missing much in terms of scenery. Total distance is roughly 483 miles and takes 8 hours.

Fuel Prices and Vehicle Efficiency

After selecting your desired route, fuel costs will probably be your next consideration. The cost of fuel in California can vary between northern and southern regions, and gas prices can fluctuate considerably day-to-day. The current gas prices per gallon in California are around $4.05 per gallon.

Consider your vehicle's fuel efficiency while traveling to a further destination, particularly if fuel prices are high. For gas mileage, larger vehicles or offroaders generally get fewer miles per gallon than smaller or hybrid-based vechicles. Generally, larger vehicles might travel 22 miles per gallon or under, while SUVs and sedans might travel 32 miles per gallon or more.

Fuel Cost Breakdown

To get an idea of the total fuel costs associated with each route, add up the amount of gas you’ll need for the entire trip and multiply it by the current per-gallon rate of $4.05. We assume using 25-monthly miles per galon in the calcuations below.

Route 1: Via I-5 S

If you select Route 1, you’re looking at around $107.00 for fuel costs from Bonsall, California, to Del Monte Forest.

285 * 4.05 / 25 = $46.08 281 * 4.05 / 25 = $45.29

Route 2: Via US-101 N

If you choose to take Route 2, you should plan to spend roughly $148.50 on gas alone:

316 * 4.05 / 25 = $51.20 86 * 4.05 / 25 = $14.00 $$17.85 * 4 = $71.40 80 * 4.05 / 25 = $12.96 135 * 4.05 / 25 = $21.87 74 * 4.05 / 25 = $11.97 We recommend you drive fuel-efficient cars or hybrids or break up the long drive into two sections.

Route 3: Via I-15 N and CA-58 W

This route, despite not being the shortest, offers the cheapest fuel cost of all the listed routes. The total cost for fuel is approximately $98.13:

39 * 4.05 / 25 = $6.30 223 * 4.05 / 25 = $36.11 221 * 4.05 / 25 = $35.77

Conclusion

There you have it: a complete analysis of the cost of a road trip from Bonsall, California to Del Monte Forest, California. While the direct Route 1 may be the cheapest in terms of fuel costs, it does not compare to the beautiful views and parks along Route 2. So, we suggest the route that will satisfy your continued interest in the travel destination. Roadtrippers are suggested to fill out your tank and keep receipts to help track your overall cost. The approximate travel time for Route 2 is over 9 hours with distances about 400 miles apart. By planning and selecting the best route, your road trip from Bonsall to Del Monte Forest ends on a happy note.