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San Diego Traffic Cameras — Live Road Cameras & Map

All San Diego California Caltrans cameras — interactive map

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About the San Diego cameras

I‑5, I‑8, I‑15 and I‑805 through San Diego, plus SR‑163, SR‑52, SR‑94 and SR‑78 — the border region's freeways from the coast to the inland valleys.

San Diego's 300‑plus Caltrans cameras run from the beaches to the mountains to the international border. I‑5 and I‑805 converge at San Ysidro — the busiest land border crossing in the Western Hemisphere — and the cameras cover the freeway approaches on the U.S. side. Be clear about what that means: you can see how traffic is flowing toward the port of entry, but not the CBP inspection lines themselves; official wait times come from CBP.

Inland, I‑15 forms the north–south spine through Escondido toward Temecula, while SR‑163, SR‑52 and SR‑78 stitch the mesas and North County together. The wildcard is I‑8 heading east — it crests above 4,000 feet in the mountains near Pine Valley, high enough for real snow, and occasionally chain controls, a few times each winter.

On the coast the hazard is subtler: the spring marine layer locals call May Gray and June Gloom, which can hold drizzle and short visibility over I‑5 all morning. The cameras show whether it has burned off yet — and in fire season they're the fastest check on the east-county routes.

Tips for the San Diego cameras

  • Border run? Check the I‑5 and I‑805 cameras near San Ysidro for approach traffic, then CBP's official wait times for the inspection lines — the two together give the full picture.
  • Driving I‑8 east in a winter storm, look at the cameras on the grades around Pine Valley before leaving the city — snow at 4,000 feet is invisible from sea level.
  • On gray spring mornings, one coastal camera tells you whether May Gray means drizzle on the freeway or just an overcast sky.
  • Pin your regulars — a border approach, your I‑15 merge, the I‑8 grade — as favorites so they open together next time.
  • When a camera makes you doubt a route, get the official call from Caltrans QuickMap (quickmap.dot.ca.gov) or 511 — closures and chain controls on I‑8 are theirs to post.

More California cameras

The statewide map and the other California regions.

California Caltrans Cameras — statewide map
Every California camera on one interactive map, including the roads beyond San Diego.
SF Bay Area Traffic Cameras
Dense coverage of the Bay Area's arteries and bridges
Los Angeles Traffic Cameras
The LA freeway network
Sierra / Tahoe Traffic Cameras
The Sierra passes
All Road Cameras — every state on one map
See every state we cover at once on a single map.

California road camera guides

In-depth guides to the highways, passes and destinations we cover here.

Is the Grapevine Closed? I-5 Tejon Pass Cameras & Detours
Check the I-5 Grapevine in seconds: live Tejon Pass cameras, real-time Caltrans closure status, why the pass shuts for snow, fog and wind, and the detours that actually work.
California Road & Traffic Cameras: A Live Caltrans Map Guide
See 3,000+ live California Caltrans traffic cameras on one fast map. Check the LA and Bay Area freeways, I-5 and the Grapevine, Donner Summit, and the coast before you drive.
Lake Tahoe & Donner Summit Road Cameras: I-80 and US-50
Live Caltrans cameras for the drive to Lake Tahoe — I-80 over Donner Summit and US-50 over Echo Summit. Check chain controls, snow and pass conditions before you climb.

Frequently asked questions

Can I see the border wait at San Ysidro?
Not directly. The cameras show traffic on I‑5 and I‑805 approaching the crossing — useful for judging how backed up the freeway side is — but the CBP inspection lines aren't on Caltrans cameras. Check CBP's official border wait times for the crossing itself.
Does it really snow on I‑8?
Yes. East of the city, I‑8 climbs into the Laguna Mountains and crests above 4,000 feet near Pine Valley, and winter storms occasionally bring snow, ice and even chain controls to that stretch. Driving to El Centro or Yuma in a cold storm, check the mountain cameras first.
What are May Gray and June Gloom?
San Diego's late-spring marine layer — a deck of low cloud and drizzle that sits on the coast through the morning. It can cut visibility on I‑5 and leave pavement slick, and the coastal cameras show at a glance whether it's still hanging around.
How often do these cameras update?
They're stills from the Caltrans CCTV network that refresh every few minutes; reload the camera you're watching to pull the latest frame.
Who runs these cameras?
Caltrans does — this is the same feed behind the state's QuickMap. This site is an independent, non‑commercial way to browse it; for official closures and incidents, go to quickmap.dot.ca.gov or dial 511.
Where do I find cameras beyond San Diego County?
The statewide map at /caltrans-cameras has every camera in California, or jump straight to the Los Angeles and Inland Empire region views for the routes north — including I‑15 toward Las Vegas.

All San Diego cameras by corridor

A complete directory of all 326 California Caltrans traffic cameras in the San Diego area, grouped by highway and corridor.

I-5 cameras (108)

I-15 cameras (53)

I-8 cameras (25)

SR-125 cameras (25)

SR-905 cameras (25)

I-805 cameras (22)