North Magnolia Ave and Prospect Ave
On Stage 2.
Heading east on Prospect Ave
Left, left, straight
Heading west on Prospect Ave
Left, left, straight, straight, right
Two lanes turn left heading east. Start and finish the turn in the same lane.
California › Driving test routes › El Cajon DMV
California DMV
El Cajon DMVDriving Test Practice Routes
1450 Graves Avenue, El Cajon, CA 92021
Within two miles of El Cajon DMV there are 93 sets of traffic lights, 18 all-way stops and 11 railroad crossings. The office is on Graves Avenue, up to 6 lanes wide in places and signed at 40 mph.
Start with the practice routes just below, then see how far a test can reach and how you'll leave the office.
El Cajon road test practice routes
Practice loops that start and finish at the DMV, each built from El Cajon's real streets and harder than the last.
These are practice loops we planned. They aren't official DMV test routes. Drive with a licensed supervisor, and follow the signs and conditions on the day, which may differ from the map.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Stage 1: Quiet streets
Quieter local streets around Graves Ave and East Bradley Ave, with no traffic lights. Start here for your first few drives.
- Length
- 3 mi
- Approx. time
- 8 min
- Turns
- 11
- 3 stop signs
- 1.1 miles of residential streets
- Junction B below, among the busiest for crashes
- Not covered: traffic lights
Open in Google Maps
Send it to your phoneScan to open this route in Google Maps, or open it here.
Google Maps can pick slightly different streets between our stops, so check it against the map here. It works best in the Google Maps app.
Turn-by-turn directions (14 steps)
- Leave the DMV and head east on Graves Avenue. 0.2 mi
- Turn right onto East Bradley Avenue. 0.5 mi
- Turn left onto North Mollison Avenue. 0.3 mi
- Continue onto Pepper Drive. 50 ft
- Continue onto Lindenwood Drive. 500 ft
- Turn right onto Limon Lane. 0.1 mi
- Turn left onto Pegeen Place. 0.2 mi
- Turn right onto Sheila Street. 450 ft
- Turn left onto Brockway Street. 250 ft
- Turn left onto Rockview Drive. 0.2 mi
- At the stop sign, turn right onto Pepper Drive. 0.4 mi
- Turn left onto Vulcan Street. 0.2 mi
- At the stop sign, turn right onto Danny Street. 500 ft
- At the stop sign, turn left onto Graves Avenue and return to the DMV. 0.4 mi
Stage 2: Stop signs and lights
Along Graves Ave and North Marshall Ave, with 14 sets of lights and 1 all-way stops.
- Length
- 5.8 mi
- Approx. time
- 16 min
- Turns
- 9
- 14 sets of lights, with 5 left turns and 2 right turns at them
- 1 all-way stop
- Multi-lane driving on West Bradley Ave
- Junctions B and D below, among the busiest for crashes
Open in Google Maps
Send it to your phoneScan to open this route in Google Maps, or open it here.
Google Maps can pick slightly different streets between our stops, so check it against the map here. It works best in the Google Maps app.
Turn-by-turn directions (12 steps)
- Leave the DMV and head east on Graves Avenue. 1.1 mi
- Turn left onto Prospect Avenue. 0.1 mi
- At the lights, turn right onto North Magnolia Avenue. 0.6 mi Straight through 2 sets of lights.
- At the lights, turn left onto Woodside Avenue. 50 ft
- At the lights, continue onto Mission Gorge Road. 0.4 mi Straight through 1 set of lights.
- At the lights, turn left onto Cottonwood Avenue. 0.5 mi Straight through 1 all-way stop.
- At the lights, turn right onto Prospect Avenue. 0.6 mi
- At the lights, turn left onto North Cuyamaca Street. 0.3 mi
- At the lights, turn left onto North Marshall Avenue. 1.1 mi
- At the lights, turn left onto West Bradley Avenue. 0.9 mi Straight through 3 sets of lights.
- Continue onto East Bradley Avenue. 0.1 mi
- Turn right onto Graves Avenue and return to the DMV. 0.2 mi
Stage 3: Test-ready loop
Everything together over about 7 miles, including North Mollison Ave and North Pierce St.
- Length
- 6.6 mi
- Approx. time
- 22 min
- Turns
- 15
- 18 sets of lights, with 1 left turn and 1 right turn at them
- 2 all-way stops
- 6 stop signs
- Multi-lane driving on North Mollison Ave
- 0.9 miles of residential streets
Open in Google Maps
Send it to your phoneScan to open this route in Google Maps, or open it here.
Google Maps can pick slightly different streets between our stops, so check it against the map here. It works best in the Google Maps app.
Turn-by-turn directions (20 steps)
- Leave the DMV and head west on Graves Avenue. 0.2 mi
- Turn left onto Greenfield Access. 500 ft
- At the stop sign, turn right onto Greenfield Drive. 0.3 mi
- Continue onto Vernon Way. 0.6 mi Straight through 2 sets of lights.
- At the stop sign, turn left onto North Marshall Avenue. 0.4 mi Straight through 1 set of lights.
- At the lights, turn right onto Petree Street. 0.1 mi
- Turn left onto North Pierce Street. 0.7 mi
- Turn right onto Russell Road. 250 ft
- At the stop sign, turn left onto El Monte Road. 350 ft
- At the stop sign, turn left onto West Main Street. 0.6 mi Straight through 4 sets of lights.
- At the lights, continue onto West Douglas Avenue. 0.1 mi
- Turn right onto Van Houten Avenue. 400 ft
- At the stop sign, turn left onto West Lexington Avenue. 0.2 mi Straight through 1 all-way stop.
- At the lights, continue onto East Lexington Avenue. 0.7 mi Straight through 1 set of lights and 1 all-way stop.
- At the lights, turn left onto South Mollison Avenue. 0.2 mi
- At the lights, continue onto North Mollison Avenue. 1.0 mi Straight through 5 sets of lights.
- Turn left onto Valley Village Drive. 0.2 mi
- Turn right onto Victor Avenue. 0.1 mi
- Turn left onto Hart Drive. 0.4 mi
- At the stop sign, turn right onto Graves Avenue and return to the DMV. 0.4 mi
Where the El Cajon DMV drive test can go
Every drive test starts and finishes at the office, so the closer a road is, the more likely you are to drive it. The shading shows how long each road takes to reach from the DMV.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Within a 6-minute drive
- 71sets of traffic lights
- 5all-way stops
- 12schools
Main roads in the area: North Magnolia Ave, Broadway, Fletcher Pkwy, Greenfield Dr, Pepper Dr, North Marshall Ave, Graves Ave and North Mollison Ave.
Drive times are our estimates from speed limits, with time added for lights and stops. They aren't DMV figures.
Leaving and returning to El Cajon DMV
The parking lot and the first junction are the only parts of the route you can be sure of. The office is on Graves Avenue.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
P
In the parking lot
The test sheet scores how you drive through the lot, so watch for people and cars, keep it slow, and take extra care reversing out of your space.
1
North to East Bradley Ave
0.2 mi along Graves Ave to East Bradley Avenue. 12 crashes were recorded there from 2021 to 2025.
2
East to Graves Ln
300 ft along Graves Ave to Graves Lane.
The roads around El Cajon DMV
What you'll be dealing with near the office, counted from map data within 2 miles.
93
Sets of traffic lights
Most are on North Magnolia Ave and West Main St.
18
All-way stops
Lea Terrace Dr has 3 of them.
17
Schools
The limit near a school drops to 25 mph when children are around.
11
Railroad crossings
Look both ways, never stop on the tracks, and wait if there isn't room on the other side.
3
Roundabouts
Give way to traffic already in the roundabout and signal as you leave.
18 mi
Bike lanes
Check the bike lane before turning right, and enter it no more than 200 feet before the turn.
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, downloaded 2026-10-07. Counts cover public roads within 2 miles of the office.
Where to practice each part of the California drive test
The DMV's drive test score sheet (form DL 32) marks you on parking lot driving, backing, intersections, turns, lane changes, and business and residential driving. Here's where to practice near El Cajon DMV.
- Every loop
Parking lot driving
The DMV lot itself, at the start and end of every test - Stage 3
Lights you drive straight through
North Mollison Ave: 5 sets of lights in 1.0 mi - Stage 2
Left turn at lights
From North Magnolia Ave onto Woodside Ave - Stage 2
Left turn without lights
From Graves Ave onto Prospect Ave, giving way to oncoming traffic - Stage 2
Right turn at lights
From Prospect Ave onto North Magnolia Ave - Stage 3
Lane changes
North Mollison Ave, a multi-lane road - Stage 1
Residential streets
Vulcan St and the streets around it - Not on a loop
Freeway merging
Only scored on supplemental (referral) tests. For practice, the nearest on-ramp is on East Bradley Ave
Score sheet sections from California DMV form DL 32. Places from OpenStreetMap.
Which lane do I need near El Cajon DMV?
Lane layouts at the junctions with lights on our practice routes, as you'd see them approaching. Arrows show which way each lane can go.
North Magnolia Ave and Woodside Ave
On Stage 2.
Heading west on Woodside Ave
Left, left, straight, straight
Heading northwest on North Magnolia Ave
Left, left, straight, straight, right
Two lanes turn left heading west. Start and finish the turn in the same lane.
Cottonwood Ave and Mission Gorge Rd
On Stage 2.
Heading west on Mission Gorge Rd
Left, straight, straight, straight
Heading east on Mission Gorge Rd
Left, straight, straight, straight
Heading west, there's no separate right-turn lane, so turn right from the right-hand lane.
Cuyamaca St and North Cuyamaca St
On Stage 2.
Heading south on Cuyamaca St
Left, straight, straight, right
Heading north on North Cuyamaca St
Left or reverse, straight, straight, straight
Heading south, the far-right lane is for turning right only.
Lane layouts from OpenStreetMap. Road markings can change, so always follow the arrows painted on the road.
What causes crashes on El Cajon's roads
Recorded causes of the 676 crashes on local roads within 2 miles of the office from 2021 to 2025, leaving out freeways. Unsafe turn or lane change and too fast for conditions top the list.
Share of the 654 crashes where a cause was recorded. Other causes made up the remaining 8%. About 33% of these crashes happened after dark. Source: California Crash Reporting System, California Highway Patrol, via data.ca.gov.
El Cajon junctions worth practicing
The junctions within 2 miles of the office with the most crashes from 2021 to 2025. Each one is marked on the practice routes map.
North 2nd St and Winter Gardens Blvd
13 crashes from 2021 to 2025
Most were side impacts. On a fresh green, look both ways before you go, and never try to beat the lights. Running a red light was the recorded cause in 4.
East Bradley Ave and Graves Ave
12 crashes from 2021 to 2025
Most were rear-end crashes. Leave a bigger gap than you think you need, and brake early and smoothly when the lights change.
Winter Gardens Blvd and Royal Rd
12 crashes from 2021 to 2025
Most were side impacts. On a fresh green, look both ways before you go, and never try to beat the lights. Running a red light was the recorded cause in 4.
North Magnolia Ave and West Bradley Ave
10 crashes from 2021 to 2025
Most were side impacts. On a fresh green, look both ways before you go, and never try to beat the lights. Running a red light was the recorded cause in 4.
Greenfield Dr and North 1st St
10 crashes from 2021 to 2025
Most were side impacts. On a fresh green, look both ways before you go, and never try to beat the lights.
Crashes located within about 100 feet of each junction. Source: California Crash Reporting System, California Highway Patrol, via data.ca.gov.
Booked your El Cajon road test?
See routes from real El Cajon tests
Once you're confident on these loops, the Driving Test Routes app has 5 routes recorded from real tests at El Cajon DMV, with turn-by-turn voice directions on your phone.
On a computer?Scan with your phone's camera to get the app.
Your first week is free.
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El Cajon driving test questions
Where does the El Cajon DMV driving test go?
The DMV doesn't publish its test routes. Every test starts and finishes in the office parking lot, and the roads closest to the office are the ones you're most likely to drive, such as North Magnolia Ave, Broadway, Fletcher Pkwy. Routes recorded from real El Cajon tests are in the Driving Test Routes app.
Are these the real El Cajon test routes?
No. Our practice routes are loops we planned from El Cajon's street data to cover the skills on the test. They're for practice, not a copy of the DMV's routes.
What do you need to pass the California drive test?
The DMV's score sheet (form DL 32) says you pass with no more than 15 errors on the driving maneuvers and no critical driving errors. Before you set off, you also need no more than 3 errors on the parking brake, arm signals, wipers, defroster, emergency flashers and headlights.
What makes El Cajon's roads tricky for learners?
Within 2 miles of the office, there are 11 railroad crossings within 2 miles; Graves Avenue is up to 6 lanes wide; there are 93 sets of traffic lights within 2 miles.
Which junctions near El Cajon DMV have the most crashes?
North 2nd St and Winter Gardens Blvd (13), East Bradley Ave and Graves Ave (12), Winter Gardens Blvd and Royal Rd (12), counting crashes from 2021 to 2025.
How do I book a drive test at El Cajon DMV?
Book online through the California DMV appointments page, choosing El Cajon as your office. Book on the DMV website.
El Cajon DMV office information
Opening hours
| Monday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| Tuesday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| Thursday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| Friday | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours can change on holidays. Check the DMV's El Cajon page before you go.
Nearby offices
- Poway DMV10.9 mi
- San Diego DMV11.9 mi
- San Diego Clairemont DMV12.9 mi
Services at El Cajon DMV
- Behind-the-wheel drive tests
- Written knowledge tests
- Motorcycle driving tests
- Driver's license and ID applications
- Replacement documents
- Vehicle registration and renewals
- Title transfers
- License plates
- Disabled parking placards
- Self-service kiosks
- Driver and vehicle records