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Trip from Anaheim, CA to Twin Lakes, CA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 3m

Distance

367.8 mi

592 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$85

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
6h 52m ★
6 AM
7h 3m
8 AM
7h 26m
10 AM
7h 11m
12 PM
7h 9m
3 PM
7h 12m
5 PM
7h 24m
8 PM
6h 56m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Twin Lakes, CA, CA

Twin Lakes, CA

ollin focus

Trip Overview

This 367.8-mile drive from Anaheim, CA to Twin Lakes, CA is a substantial undertaking, estimated to take around 7 hours and 3 minutes of pure driving time. Primarily a highway-focused experience, you'll spend about 90% of your journey on major freeways like the Westside Freeway and Golden State Freeway. Given the duration and distance, it's feasible as a single-day trip, though planning for the estimated $85 fuel cost is essential. You'll encounter two recommended stops along the way. This route stays within the Pacific Coast region, offering a consistent driving environment.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

183.9 miles from Anaheim, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 28m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Westside Freeway 182.5 mi 3h 15m
Golden State Freeway 50 mi 57m
I 5 Truck 37.7 mi 43m
CA 152 36.1 mi 43m
Santa Ana Freeway 21.3 mi 24m
Cabrillo Highway 12 mi 13m
Riverside Road 9.5 mi 13m
Bloomfield Avenue 4.1 mi 6m
Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 182.5 mi, about 3h 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Anaheim, CA and Twin Lakes, 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 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

183 mi · 3 hr 15 min · Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Exit 403B Toward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose
14

Continue on CA 152; CA33

29 mi · 33 min · CA 152; CA33
Use the straight lane.
15

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 152

7.4 mi · 10 min · CA 152
16

Turn left onto CR G7

3.2 mi · 4 min · Bloomfield Avenue
17

At end of road, turn right onto CA 25

0.9 mi · 1 min · Bloomfield Avenue
18

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 15 sec
19

Merge onto US 101

2.9 mi · 3 min · South Valley Freeway
20

Continue on US 101

2.3 mi · 2 min · El Camino Real
21

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 18 sec
Exit 347 Toward CA 129 West: Watsonville, Santa Cruz
22

Turn right onto CA 129

2.5 mi · 3 min · Chittenden Road
23

Continue on CA 129

8.6 mi · 11 min · Riverside Road
24

Enter roundabout onto CA 129

144 ft · 2 sec · Riverside Road
25

Continue on CA 129

0.9 mi · 1 min · Riverside Road
26

Turn right onto Blackburn Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Blackburn Street
27

At end of road, turn left onto CA 152

0.5 mi · 54 sec · East Lake Avenue
28

Turn right onto CA 152

0.3 mi · 30 sec · Main Street
29

Turn left onto CA 152

1.6 mi · 2 min · Main Street
30

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec
31

Merge onto CA 1

12 mi · 13 min · Cabrillo Highway
32

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec
Toward Soquel Avenue
33

Continue on Commercial way

345 ft · 11 sec · Commercial way
34

Turn left onto Soquel Drive

0.2 mi · 18 sec · Soquel Drive
35

Continue on Soquel Avenue

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Soquel Avenue
36

Turn left onto 7th Avenue

1.4 mi · 4 min · 7th Avenue
Use the left lane.
37

Arrive at destination

7th Avenue

Trip Plan

For this 7-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Anaheim to maximize daylight and minimize traffic. With two planned stops, aim to break up the 182.5-mile longest stretch on the Westside Freeway to maintain alertness. The estimated $85 fuel cost is a key budgeting factor, so ensure your vehicle is adequately fueled before departing. Given the highway-focused nature, maintaining focus on the road conditions is paramount throughout the 367.8-mile journey.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 183.9 miles from Anaheim, CA, or about 3h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 182.5 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 81 miles or 1h 36m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 183.9 miles or 3h 28m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 42m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Twin Lakes, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Anaheim, CA

This is one driving day of about 367.8 miles and 7h 3m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Anaheim, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 182.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mendota, CA

184 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

Santa Clarita, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Avenal, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 183.9 miles from Anaheim, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 182.5 miles.

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 26

5 decision points cluster between mile 4.6 and 110.2 — 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
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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$84.54 one way

$169.07 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 129 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $87.11 $174.23
premium $6.18 $89.44 $178.89
diesel $5.61 $81.21 $162.41

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$85

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$110–$135

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 128.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 110.3 1 $38.62 $17.65
Efficient EV 92 1 $32.18 $14.71
EV Truck/SUV 147.1 1 $51.49 $23.54

Gas CO2

129 kg

EV CO2

43 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 Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Anaheim, CA

Morning in Anaheim on Sunday

Local time

8:09 AM

PDT

Current temp

74°F

Partly Sunny

SW 0 to 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 8:38AM PDT until April 16 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 16 at 8:38AM PDT until April 16 at 9:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA

Destination

Twin Lakes, CA

Morning in Twin Lakes on Sunday

Local time

8:09 AM

PDT

Current temp

70°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

4 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

7h 3m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for this trip, with 90% of the route utilizing major freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a considerable 182.5 miles on the Westside Freeway. While largely a high-speed experience, this highway-centric profile means consistent travel speeds are likely. The character of the road remains largely uniform throughout, emphasizing efficient transit over varied scenery.

90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 182.5 mi on Westside Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

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 Effort 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 367.8 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.

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 Twin Lakes, CA, road signs point toward Hollister, San Jose and Santa Cruz.

Hollister

292.7 mi in | ~5h 25m

San Jose

292.7 mi in | ~5h 25m

Santa Cruz

338.5 mi in | ~6h 21m

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

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 7h 3m. Total distance: 367.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 3m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 182.5 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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 Twin Lakes, 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. 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.

Not recommended in a single day. At 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Twin Lakes, CA before the return drive.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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