Anaheim to South Yuba City is 448.4 miles and takes about 8h 18m via Westside Freeway and Golden State Freeway, with a fuel budget near $107 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within California, traversing the Pacific Coast region for both departure and arrival. Given its mostly highway profile and duration, this is a solid option for an overnight trip if you prefer a more relaxed pace. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on major freeways, so expect straightforward navigation.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
224.2 miles from Anaheim, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
304.9 mi
5h 29m
Golden State Freeway
50 mi
57m
I 5 Truck
37.7 mi
43m
Santa Ana Freeway
21.3 mi
24m
CA 99
20.4 mi
23m
Golden State Highway
7.5 mi
8m
Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
5 mi
5m
West Lincoln Avenue
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 304.9 mi, about 5h 29m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 302 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,192 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,362
Quietest
2 AM
~630 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 44 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 South Yuba City, 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 left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi·41 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi·25 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
226 mi·4 hr 1 min·Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
26 mi·27 min·Westside Freeway
14
Keep left at fork onto I 5
54 mi·59 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99
7.5 mi·8 min·Golden State Highway
Toward CA 99 North, CA 70: Yuba City, MarysvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on CA 99
5.0 mi·5 min·Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
17
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 99
3.2 mi·3 min·CA 99
18
Continue on CA 99
17 mi·20 min·CA 99
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn left onto Richland Road
0.3 mi·47 sec·Richland Road
Use the left lane.
20
Turn left
505 ft·37 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With an estimated duration of over 8 hours, splitting this drive over two days is recommended for a more comfortable experience. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight, especially if you plan to drive straight through. You'll have 2 suggested stops, so plan to take breaks roughly every 3-4 hours. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; the estimated cost is $107, and it's wise to refuel before hitting the longest stretch of 304.9 miles on the Westside Freeway to avoid any potential delays.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 224.2 miles from Anaheim, CA, or about 4h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 304.9 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 99 miles or 1h 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 224.2 miles or 4h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 224.2 miles or 4h 11m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Yuba City, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Anaheim, CA
Aim for roughly 224 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into South Yuba City, CA
Aim for roughly 224 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 99 miles from Anaheim, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 304.9 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.6 and 415.1 — 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.
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
7
110.2 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|I 5 / Westside Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway toward I 5 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 North
8
415.1 mi into trip|~7h 38m in|CA 99 / Golden State Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99 / Golden State Highway toward CA 99 North, CA 70: Yuba City, Marysville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 99 North, CA 70: Yuba City, Marysvill...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$93.81 one way
$187.62 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg157 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$97.43
$194.86
premium
$5.67
$100.01
$200.01
diesel
$4.80
$84.67
$169.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$94
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$224–$334
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 156.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $47 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
134.5
1
$47.08
$21.52
Efficient EV
112.1
1
$39.24
$17.94
EV Truck/SUV
179.4
2
$62.78
$28.70
Gas CO2
157 kg
EV CO2
52 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Anaheim, CA
Morning
in Anaheim on Sunday
Local time
11:40 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Partly Cloudy
S 0 to 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 7:02PM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
South Yuba City, CA
Morning
in South Yuba City on Sunday
Local time
11:40 AM
PDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Clear
SSE 2 to 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 7:02PM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
8h 18m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 46.4
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...
28 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 108.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 97% highway, meaning you'll be on freeways for nearly the entire 448.4 miles. The longest continuous stretch on a freeway is 304.9 miles, primarily on the Westside Freeway. You'll notice a significant amount of merging and exiting activity as you navigate through various populated areas en route. Surface roads will only make up a small portion of your travel time.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 304.9 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway 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 17 significant decision points across 448.4 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 50.3 miles (I 5 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
3,660 ft14 ft
Total Climb
3,871 ft
Total Descent
3,974 ft
Highest Point
3,660 ft
~96.1 mi in
Elevation Range
3,646 ft
Notable High Points
3,660 ft at ~96.1 miles+2,571 ft prominence
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 South Yuba City, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Marysville 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
The longest stretch is about 304.9 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 224 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 39 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 South Yuba City, 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. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. There are 39 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 50.3 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.3 hours each way, a round trip means 16.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at South Yuba City, CA before the return drive.
