Where is Santee, California, U.S.

Written and Fact-checked by | Updated On: May 11, 2026

Where is Santee, California Located in the United States? - Santee is a city located in the San Diego County in California, United States. Santee lies between 32.8384 Degrees North latitudes and -116.9739 Degrees West longitudes.

Location Map of Santee, San Diego, California

Where is Santee Located in San Diego, California

About Map: The map shows the location of Santee in San Diego County, in the U.S. state of California.

Santee Map, California, USA

About Santee Map: This Google Map provides a detailed view with zoom, satellite, and street options to explore the area and its surroundings.

About Santee, San Diego County, California

Santee is located in San Diego County in the U.S. state of California, United States. It lies in the southern part of the state in the state of the United States within the eastern portion of the San Diego metropolitan area along the San Diego River Valley. The city was incorporated in 1980 and was named after the Santee Land and Town Company, and it developed from ranch and agricultural land into a suburban residential community.

Population

According to the United States Census Bureau, the population of Santee is 60,037 as recorded in the 2020 Census, and the population density is approximately 3,800 people per square mile.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Santee covers a total area of approximately 16.0 square miles (about 41.4 square kilometers), including about 15.8 square miles (40.9 square kilometers) of land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 square kilometers) of water.

Location and Surroundings

Santee is situated east of San Diego and west of El Cajon, positioned within a valley surrounded by rolling hills and open space areas. The city features residential neighborhoods, parks, and access to the San Diego River corridor. State Route 52 and State Route 67 provide major transportation routes connecting Santee to other communities across San Diego County.

Top Attractions

Santee offers parks, lakes, and outdoor recreation areas that support tourism and community activities. Popular destinations include Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve, Mission Trails Regional Park nearby, and the Walker Preserve Trail. The city hosts community festivals and outdoor events that reflect its family-oriented suburban environment.

Transportation

Santee is served by State Route 52 and State Route 67, offering convenient highway access throughout San Diego County and Southern California. Public transportation includes San Diego Trolley light rail service and regional bus connections linking the city to surrounding communities. The nearest major airport is San Diego International Airport, located approximately 20 miles to the west.

Explore more cities in California or visit the United States Map section to learn more about the country’s geography.

Sources:

Population and area data sourced from the United States Census Bureau (2020 Census). General city information referenced from the Official Santee City Website.

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Santee, California Quick Facts

AttributeDetails
CitySantee
CountySan Diego County
StateCalifornia
State CapitalSacramento
US RegionWest
Latitude32.8384° N
Longitude116.9739° W
ElevationApproximately 400 ft (122 m)
Land Area16.54 sq mi
Water AreaApproximately 0.03 sq mi
Total AreaApproximately 16.57 sq mi
Population (2020 Census)60,037
Population Density3,630.5 per sq mi
ZIP Codes92071, 92072
Area Code619, 858
Time Zone StandardPacific Standard Time (PST), UTC−8
Time Zone DaylightPacific Daylight Time (PDT), UTC−7
CurrencyUnited States Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code06-70224
Congressional DistrictCalifornia's 48th Congressional District

Transportation and Connectivity in Santee, California

Transportation TypeDetails
Airport NameSan Diego International Airport / Gillespie Field
IATA CodeSAN / SEE
PortPort of San Diego (Regional Access)
Major HighwaysState Route 52, Interstate 8, State Route 125
Train ServiceSan Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Green Line Trolley
Local Bus/Transit ServiceSan Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS)
  • State Route 52: Provides an east-west connection between Santee, San Diego, and northern San Diego County.
  • Interstate 8: Connects Santee with San Diego, El Cajon, the Imperial Valley, and Arizona.
  • State Route 125: Provides a major north-south connection through East County San Diego.
  • MTS Green Line: Connects Santee with El Cajon, Mission Valley, downtown San Diego, and other regional destinations.
  • San Diego International Airport: Provides the region's primary commercial air service.

Top Places to Visit in Santee, California

Landmark NameType
Santee Lakes Recreation PreserveLake and Recreation Area
Santee Trolley SquareShopping and Transit Center
Santee SportsplexSports and Recreation Facility
Mission Trails Regional ParkRegional Park and Hiking Area
Mast ParkCommunity Park and Disc Golf Course
Big Rock ParkCommunity Recreation Area
Walker PreserveNature and Walking Area
Santee BouldersRock Climbing Area
Town Center Community ParkCommunity Park
Lake JenningsFishing and Recreation Area

Driving Distances from Santee, California to Nearby Cities

CityStateDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
El CajonCalifornia6 mi10 minutes
La MesaCalifornia8 mi15 minutes
San DiegoCalifornia18 mi25 minutes
PowayCalifornia15 mi25 minutes
EscondidoCalifornia22 mi30 minutes
Chula VistaCalifornia25 mi35 minutes
National CityCalifornia20 mi30 minutes
CarlsbadCalifornia40 mi45 minutes
OceansideCalifornia45 mi50 minutes
TemeculaCalifornia55 mi1 hour

Colleges and Universities Near Santee, California

Institution NameTypeLevelNotable For
Grossmont CollegePublicCommunity CollegeTransfer programs, nursing, career education, arts, and sciences
San Diego State UniversityPublicUniversityBusiness, engineering, sciences, arts, and research
Cuyamaca CollegePublicCommunity CollegeCareer education, engineering technology, health sciences, and transfer programs
University of San DiegoPrivateUniversityBusiness, law, education, nursing, and liberal arts
Santee School DistrictPublicK–8 DistrictElementary and middle school education

Waterbodies Near Santee, California

Santee Lakes, San Diego River, Lake Jennings, Mission Gorge Reservoir, and nearby waterways throughout eastern San Diego County.

Golf Courses Near Santee

Mission Trails Golf Course, Carlton Oaks Country Club, Singing Hills Golf Resort, Willow Glen Golf Course, and Steele Canyon Golf Club.

Santee, California — Key Historical Facts

  • The Santee area was originally inhabited by the Kumeyaay people, whose ancestral lands cover much of San Diego County.
  • The community was named after Milton Santee, a railroad engineer and surveyor associated with early development in the region.
  • Ranching, agriculture, and transportation shaped the area before large-scale suburban development.
  • Santee was incorporated as a city on July 1, 1980.
  • The city expanded rapidly during the late 20th century as residential communities developed in East County San Diego.
  • Today, Santee is known for its parks, recreation facilities, Santee Lakes, regional trails, and convenient access to San Diego.

Stadiums and Sports Facilities Near Santee

Facility NameTypeLocation
Santee SportsplexIndoor Sports and Recreation FacilitySantee, California
West Hills High School Wolfpack StadiumHigh School Sports StadiumSantee, California
Santana High School Santee StadiumHigh School Sports StadiumSantee, California
Grossmont College Griffin StadiumCollege Sports StadiumEl Cajon, California
Snapdragon StadiumCollege and Professional Sports StadiumSan Diego, California

References

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