Community Rd and Hilleary Pl
On Stages 1 and 2.
Heading west on Hilleary Pl
Left, straight
Heading north on Community Rd
Left, straight, straight
Heading west, there's no separate right-turn lane, so turn right from the right-hand lane.
California › Driving test routes › Poway DMV
California DMV
Poway DMVDriving Test Practice Routes
13461 Community Road, Poway, CA 92064
Within two miles of Poway DMV there are 43 sets of traffic lights and 27 all-way stops. The office is on Community Road, up to 5 lanes wide in places and signed at 35 mph. There are no roundabouts or railroad crossings nearby.
Start with the practice routes just below, then see how far a test can reach and how you'll leave the office.
Poway road test practice routes
Practice loops that start and finish at the DMV, each built from Poway'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: Quieter streets
The quietest streets near the office, around Poway Rd. This area is busy, so even this loop meets some traffic lights.
- Length
- 1.5 mi
- Approx. time
- 6 min
- Turns
- 6
- 6 sets of lights, with 1 left turn and 3 right turns at them
- 2 stop signs
- Multi-lane driving on Midland Rd
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 (7 steps)
- Leave the DMV and head northeast on Community Road. 50 ft
- At the lights, turn right onto Hilleary Place. 0.2 mi
- At the lights, turn right onto Midland Road. 0.4 mi Straight through 1 set of lights.
- At the stop sign, turn left onto Fairgate Drive. 0.2 mi
- At the stop sign, turn left onto Gate Drive. 0.1 mi
- At the lights, turn left onto Poway Road. 0.4 mi Straight through 1 set of lights.
- At the lights, turn right onto Community Road and return to the DMV. 0.2 mi
Stage 2: Stop signs and lights
Along Metate Ln and Community Rd, with 11 sets of lights and 4 all-way stops.
- Length
- 4.3 mi
- Approx. time
- 15 min
- Turns
- 10
- 11 sets of lights, with 3 left turns and 4 right turns at them
- 4 all-way stops
- 1 stop sign
- Multi-lane driving on Community Rd
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 (11 steps)
- Leave the DMV and head northwest on Community Road. 50 ft
- At the lights, turn left onto Hilleary Place. 50 ft
- At the lights, turn left onto Community Road. 0.8 mi Straight through 2 sets of lights.
- At the lights, turn right onto Metate Lane. 1.2 mi Straight through 3 all-way stops.
- At the lights, turn right onto Pomerado Road. 0.2 mi
- At the lights, turn right onto Oak Knoll Road. 0.6 mi Straight through 1 all-way stop.
- Turn left onto Conley Street. 0.2 mi
- Turn left onto Buckley Street. 0.1 mi
- At the stop sign, turn right onto Carriage Road. 0.2 mi
- At the lights, turn right onto Poway Road. 0.8 mi Straight through 2 sets of lights.
- At the lights, turn left onto Community Road and return to the DMV. 0.2 mi
Stage 3: Test-ready loop
Everything together over about 6 miles, including Pomerado Rd and Community Rd.
- Length
- 6.2 mi
- Approx. time
- 18 min
- Turns
- 15
- 11 sets of lights, with 5 left turns at them
- 2 all-way stops
- 6 stop signs
- Multi-lane driving on Community Rd
- 1.4 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 (16 steps)
- Leave the DMV and head north on Community Road. 1.0 mi Straight through 2 sets of lights.
- At the lights, turn left onto Twin Peaks Road. 1.1 mi Straight through 1 set of lights.
- At the lights, turn left onto Ted Williams Parkway. 0.3 mi
- At the lights, turn left onto Pomerado Road. 1.3 mi Straight through 3 sets of lights.
- Turn left onto Tassel Road. 200 ft
- At the stop sign, turn right onto Powers Road. 0.2 mi
- At the stop sign, turn left onto McFeron Road. 0.1 mi
- At the stop sign, turn right onto Tobiasson Road. 250 ft
- At the stop sign, turn left onto Robison Boulevard. 0.3 mi Straight through 1 all-way stop.
- At the stop sign, turn left onto Carriage Road. 0.1 mi
- At the all-way stop, turn right onto Papago Drive. 0.2 mi
- Turn left onto Cree Drive. 0.3 mi
- Turn right onto Tuscarora Drive. 0.3 mi
- At the stop sign, turn right onto Tarascan Drive. 0.2 mi
- At the lights, turn left onto Poway Road. 0.4 mi
- At the lights, turn left onto Community Road and return to the DMV. 0.2 mi
Where the Poway 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
- 35sets of traffic lights
- 23all-way stops
- 9schools
Main roads in the area: Poway Rd, Community Rd, Twin Peaks Rd, Scripps Poway Pkwy, Stowe Dr, Pomerado Rd, Midland Rd and Carriage Rd.
Drive times are our estimates from speed limits, with time added for lights and stops. They aren't DMV figures.
Leaving and returning to Poway DMV
The parking lot and the first junction are the only parts of the route you can be sure of. The office is on Community Road.
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
South to Poway Rd
0.2 mi along Community Rd to Poway Road, where there are lights.
2
North to Hilleary Pl
50 ft along Community Rd to Hilleary Place, where there are lights.
The roads around Poway DMV
What you'll be dealing with near the office, counted from map data within 2 miles.
43
Sets of traffic lights
Most are on Pomerado Rd and Poway Rd.
27
All-way stops
Kirkham Way has 4 of them.
11
Schools
The limit near a school drops to 25 mph when children are around.
1 mi
Horse trails
Expect riders near the road. Slow down and give them plenty of room.
2 mi
One-way streets
Check the arrows before every turn, and start from the correct side of the road.
27 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 Poway DMV.
- Every loop
Parking lot driving
The DMV lot itself, at the start and end of every test - Stage 2
Stopping at all-way stops
Metate Ln, 3 in a row - Stage 3
Lights you drive straight through
Pomerado Rd: 3 sets of lights in 1.3 mi - Stage 2
Left turn at lights
From Community Rd onto Hilleary Pl - Stage 2
Left turn without lights
From Oak Knoll Rd onto Conley St, giving way to oncoming traffic - Stage 2
Right turn at lights
From Community Rd onto Metate Ln - Stage 3
Lane changes
Pomerado Rd, a multi-lane road - Stage 1
Residential streets
Fairgate Dr and the streets around it
Score sheet sections from California DMV form DL 32. Places from OpenStreetMap.
Which lane do I need near Poway 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.
Hilleary Pl and Midland Rd
On Stage 1.
Heading east on Hilleary Pl
Left, straight
Heading south on Midland Rd
Left, straight, straight
Heading east, there's no separate right-turn lane, so turn right from the right-hand lane.
Gate Dr and Poway Rd
On Stage 1.
Heading east on Poway Rd
Left or reverse, straight, straight
Heading east, there's no separate right-turn lane, so turn right from the right-hand lane.
Community Rd and Poway Rd
On Stages 1 and 2 and 3.
Heading north on Community Rd
Left or reverse, left, straight, straight
Heading west on Poway Rd
Left or reverse, left, straight, straight
Two lanes turn left heading north. Start and finish the turn in the same lane.
Lane layouts from OpenStreetMap. Road markings can change, so always follow the arrows painted on the road.
Booked your Poway road test?
See routes from real Poway tests
Once you're confident on these loops, the Driving Test Routes app has 5 routes recorded from real tests at Poway 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.
We earn a commission if you subscribe through these links.
Poway driving test questions
Where does the Poway 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 Poway Rd, Community Rd, Twin Peaks Rd. Routes recorded from real Poway tests are in the Driving Test Routes app.
Are these the real Poway test routes?
No. Our practice routes are loops we planned from Poway'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 Poway's roads tricky for learners?
Within 2 miles of the office, Community Road is up to 5 lanes wide; there are 27 all-way stops.
How do I book a drive test at Poway DMV?
Book online through the California DMV appointments page, choosing Poway as your office. Book on the DMV website.
Poway 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 Poway page before you go.
Nearby offices
- El Cajon DMV10.9 mi
- San Diego Clairemont DMV12.5 mi
- San Marcos DMV14 mi
Services at Poway 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
- Driver and vehicle records