The drive from Anaheim, CA to Mojave, CA covers 120.3 miles and takes about 2h 20m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on CA 14 Truck, Golden State Freeway, Santa Ana Freeway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 45.7 miles on CA 14 Truck.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.67 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.2 miles from Anaheim, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
CA 14 Truck
45.7 mi
52m
Golden State Freeway
27.7 mi
32m
Santa Ana Freeway
21.3 mi
24m
Aerospace Highway
19.1 mi
20m
Sierra Highway
3.7 mi
4m
I 5 Truck
1.5 mi
1m
West Lincoln Avenue
1 mi
2m
South Anaheim Boulevard
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
CA 14 Truck
— 45.7 mi, about 52m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 204 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,928 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~1,015 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 10 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anaheim, CA and Mojave, CA.
1
Start on this road
200 ft·16 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto South Anaheim Boulevard
422 ft·21 sec·South Anaheim Boulevard
3
Turn left onto West Lincoln Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·West Lincoln Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
5
Merge onto I 5
3.3 mi·3 min·Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
18 mi·20 min·Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
25 mi·29 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.2 mi·2 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.5 mi·1 min·I 5 Truck
Exit 161AToward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 TruckUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 14 Truck
46 mi·52 min·CA 14 Truck
Toward CA 14 North: Palmdale, LancasterUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 14
19 mi·20 min·Aerospace Highway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on CA 14; US 6 Hist
3.7 mi·4 min·Sierra Highway
13
Arrive at destination
CA 14; CA 58 BUS; US 6 Hist
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 60.2 miles from Anaheim, CA, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.7 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 26 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.2 miles or 1h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mojave, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Anaheim, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Anaheim, CA
This is one driving day of about 120.3 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Anaheim, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on CA 14 Truck for about 45.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.6 and 51.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
4.6 mi into trip|~7m in|I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
22.6 mi into trip|~28m in|I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
48 mi into trip|~58m in|I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
50.3 mi into trip|~1h in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
8
51.8 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|CA 14 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 14 Truck toward CA 14 North: Palmdale, Lancaster
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 14 North: Palmdale, Lancaster
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.67 one way
$53.34 round trip
$5.63/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.81
$27.52
$55.04
premium
$5.98
$28.34
$56.67
diesel
$5.60
$26.52
$53.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.1
0
$12.63
$5.77
Efficient EV
30.1
0
$10.53
$4.81
EV Truck/SUV
48.1
0
$16.84
$7.70
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Sep 1, 2026
Origin
Anaheim, CA
Night
in Anaheim on Friday
Local time
9:29 PM
PDT
Current temp
83°F
Sunny
SW 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued September 1 at 2:35PM PDT until September 3 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued September 1 at 12:11PM PDT until September 2 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Destination
Mojave, CA
Night
in Mojave on Friday
Local time
9:29 PM
PDT
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
SW 25 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued September 1 at 2:35PM PDT until September 3 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued September 1 at 12:11PM PDT until September 2 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
4 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 20m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 49.8
Park Closure: Solstice Canyon Trail Weekday Closure for Repairs
Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 120.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
120.3 mi in 2h 20m, mostly highway — 45.7 mi of that is on CA 14 Truck.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.7 mi on CA 14 Truck.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on CA 14 Truck and Golden State Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.6 miles in near I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 120.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.6 miles (I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.6 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 48 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,076 ft70 ft
Total Climb
3,446 ft
Total Descent
843 ft
Highest Point
3,076 ft
~77.3 mi in
Elevation Range
3,006 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Anaheim, CA to Mojave, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Lancaster along the way.
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
•Disneyland — American theme park in California owned by The Walt Disney Company
•Disney California Adventure — theme park in California, part of Disneyland Resort
•Soarin' — flight motion simulator attraction at Disney parks
Mojave is a city of 4,200 people (2010) in Kern County in the Desert region of California. Mojave has a rich aerospace history because of nearby Edwards Air Force Base, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, and Palmdale Regional Airport.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 20m. Total distance: 120.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.7 miles on CA 14 Truck. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Mojave, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.6 miles (I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.6 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 48 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and César E. Chávez National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Mojave, CA before heading back.
