Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
34m
Distance
26.2 mi
42 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Los Angeles, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Traveling the 26.2 miles between Anaheim and Los Angeles is a quick, straightforward journey that typically takes about 34 minutes. Because the drive is so short, it works perfectly as a simple day trip that requires no overnight stays. You will primarily navigate via the Santa Ana Freeway, West Lincoln Avenue, and North Los Angeles Street. With an estimated fuel cost of just $4, this is an incredibly economical route to traverse within the Pacific Coast region. Since both cities are located in the same region of California, you won't experience drastic shifts in landscape or environment. It is an ideal option if you need to bridge these two major hubs quickly and efficiently.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 24.2 mi | 28m |
| West Lincoln Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Los Angeles Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Arcadia Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Anaheim Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 1st Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Step-by-step road directions between Anaheim, CA and Los Angeles, CA.
Start on this road
Turn left onto South Anaheim Boulevard
Turn left onto West Lincoln Avenue
Turn left
Merge onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
Take the exit
Continue on I 10 EXPR
Turn left onto North Los Angeles Street
Turn right onto East 1st Street
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 25.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto West Lincoln Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101 / Santa Ana Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Alameda Street, Union Station
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$6.02 one way
$12.04 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $6.21 | $12.41 |
| premium | $6.18 | $6.37 | $12.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.78 | $11.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.75 | $1.26 |
| Efficient EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.29 | $1.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.67 | $1.68 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Anaheim on Sunday
Local time
10:47 AM
PDT
Current temp
82°F
Sunny
Destination
Morning in Los Angeles on Sunday
Local time
10:47 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a highly efficient, highway-focused drive that keeps you moving toward your destination with minimal fuss. With 92% of the journey spent on highways, you will spend the vast majority of your time behind the wheel cruising along the Santa Ana Freeway. This specific stretch accounts for 24.2 miles of your 26.2-mile trip, providing a consistent pace for most of the drive. The personality of this route is functional and direct, lacking the twists of a scenic backroad or the complexity of technical local roads. You can anticipate a smooth, predictable transition from the heart of Orange County into the urban landscape of Los Angeles.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Santa Ana Freeway and West Lincoln Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Lincoln Avenue.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 26.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 34m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West Lincoln Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
248 ft
Total Descent
121 ft
Highest Point
285 ft
~26.2 mi in
Elevation Range
225 ft
Founded 1857
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. It is best known for being the home of Disneyland. Its second claim to fame is hosting the National Hockey League's Anaheim Ducks and Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels.
Top landmarks
“Tinseltown” · Founded 1781
Frank Lloyd Wright is said to have quipped, "Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles," a quote that has since been repeated both by those who love and hate L.A. The "City of Angels" is home to people who hail from all parts of the globe and an important center of culture, business, media, and international trade. However, it's most famous for being a major center of the world's television, motion picture, and music industry, which forms the base of the city's status and lures visitors for its show business history and celebrity culture. Visitors are also drawn to Los Angeles for its Mediterranean climate and numerous beaches, which gave birth to California's famed surf culture.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 34m. Total distance: 26.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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