Origin
Anaheim, CA
Night in Anaheim on Friday
Local time
10:34 PM
PDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Anaheim, CA to Palmdale, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 43m
Distance
87 mi
140 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 36m
★
6 AM
1h 44m
8 AM
1h 59m
10 AM
1h 49m
12 PM
1h 48m
3 PM
1h 50m
5 PM
1h 59m
8 PM
1h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Anaheim, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Palmdale, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Anaheim, CA to Palmdale, CA covers 87 miles and takes about 1h 43m 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 29.5 miles on CA 14 Truck. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.29 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
43.5 miles from Anaheim, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| CA 14 Truck | 29.5 mi | 33m |
| Golden State Freeway | 27.7 mi | 32m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 21.3 mi | 24m |
| Sierra Highway | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| I 5 Truck | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| West Lincoln Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| South Anaheim Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Palmdale Boulevard | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
CA 14 Truck
— 29.5 mi, about 33m
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
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Palmdale, 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 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 14 Truck
29 mi
·
33 min
·
CA 14 Truck
Toward CA 14 North: Palmdale, Lancaster
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward Angeles Forest Highway, Pearblossom Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
466 ft
·
11 sec
Toward Angeles Forest Highway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
155 ft
·
6 sec
14
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Sierra Highway
15
Continue on US 6 Hist
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Sierra Highway
16
Turn right onto CA 138
38 ft
·
0 sec
·
East Palmdale Boulevard
17
Arrive at destination
CA 138
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 43.5 miles from Anaheim, CA, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.5 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 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.5 miles or 52m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Palmdale, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Anaheim, CA
This is one driving day of about 87 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 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 29.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43.5 miles from Anaheim, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 4.6 and 81.5 — 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.
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
7
81.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward Angeles Forest Highway, Pearblossom Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Angeles Forest Highway, Pearblossom High...
8
81.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Angeles Forest Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Angeles Forest Highway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.29 one way
$38.57 round trip
$5.63/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.81 | $19.90 | $39.81 |
| premium | $5.98 | $20.49 | $40.99 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $19.18 | $38.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.1 | 0 | $9.14 | $4.18 |
| Efficient EV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.61 | $3.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.8 | 0 | $12.18 | $5.57 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Palmdale, CA
Night in Palmdale on Friday
Local time
10:34 PM
PDT
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
20 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
1h 43m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
87 mi in 1h 43m, mostly highway — 29.5 mi of that is on CA 14 Truck.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.5 mi on CA 14 Truck.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 87 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 50.3 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 51.8 miles (CA 14 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,242 ft
64 ft
Total Climb
3,178 ft
Total Descent
678 ft
Highest Point
3,242 ft
~80.8 mi in
Elevation Range
3,178 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Anaheim, CA and Palmdale, CA, road signs point toward Lancaster, Angeles Forest Highway and Pearblossom Highway.
Lancaster
51.8 mi in
|
~1h 2m
|
via CA 14 Truck
Angeles Forest Highway
81.3 mi in
|
~1h 36m
Pearblossom Highway
81.3 mi in
|
~1h 36m
About the Cities
Starting in Anaheim, CA
Full guide →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
- • 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
Arriving in Palmdale, CA
Full guide →Founded 1886
Palmdale is a city in the far north of Los Angeles County in the Antelope Valley region of the Mojave Desert in Southern California.
Top landmarks
- • Joe Davies Heritage Airpark — aviation museum in Palmdale, California, United States
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 87 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.5 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 Palmdale, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 50.3 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 51.8 miles (CA 14 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Palmdale, CA before heading back.
How this page is built
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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