Origin
Anaheim, CA
Evening in Anaheim on Saturday
Local time
7:49 PM
PDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Anaheim, CA to West Menlo Park, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 20m
Distance
385.2 mi
620 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$87
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 10m
★
6 AM
7h 20m
8 AM
7h 41m
10 AM
7h 27m
12 PM
7h 25m
3 PM
7h 29m
5 PM
7h 40m
8 PM
7h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Anaheim, CA
Wikimedia Commons
West Menlo Park, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
Anaheim to West Menlo Park is 385.2 miles and takes about 7h 20m via I-5 N and CA-152, with a fuel budget near $87 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you within California, moving from the Pacific Coast region towards the San Francisco Bay Area. You'll spend almost all your time on major freeways, making it a straightforward, high-speed transit. Plan for about two stops along the way to break up the 7-plus hours of driving.
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
192.6 miles from Anaheim, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 37m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 182.5 mi | 3h 15m |
| Golden State Freeway | 50 mi | 57m |
| CA 152 | 41.1 mi | 51m |
| I 5 Truck | 37.7 mi | 43m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 21.3 mi | 24m |
| South Valley Freeway | 19.9 mi | 22m |
| CA 85 | 18.4 mi | 21m |
| Junipero Serra Freeway | 9.3 mi | 10m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 182.5 mi, about 3h 15m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 165 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,565 veh/hr typical · worst 3,327
Quietest
2 AM
~490 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 West Menlo Park, 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
12 mi
·
16 min
·
CA 152
16
Take the exit onto CA 152
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 152
Toward US 101 North: San Jose
17
Merge onto US 101; CA 152
20 mi
·
22 min
·
South Valley Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 85
18 mi
·
21 min
·
CA 85
Exit 377B
Toward CA 85 North: Cupertino, Mountain View
Use the slight right lane.
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 19
Toward I 280 North, I 280 South: San Jose, San Francisco
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 280 North: San Francisco
21
Merge onto I 280
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Junipero Serra Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 22
Toward Alpine Road, Portola Valley
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork
516 ft
·
12 sec
Toward Menlo Park, Atherton
24
Turn straight onto Alpine Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Alpine Road
25
Continue on Santa Cruz Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Cruz Avenue
Use the left lane.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto Alameda de las Pulgas
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Alameda de las Pulgas
27
Turn right onto Ashton Avenue
295 ft
·
18 sec
·
Ashton Avenue
28
Turn left
117 ft
·
8 sec
29
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To maximize your daylight and minimize traffic, aim to depart Anaheim before 7 AM. With a drive time of over 7 hours and two recommended stops, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the central California section, and utilize the two planned stops to refuel and stretch. The majority of the drive is on major highways, so be prepared for typical freeway conditions and varying traffic patterns as you approach the Bay Area.
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 192.6 miles from Anaheim, CA, or about 3h 37m 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 85 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 192.6 miles or 3h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Menlo Park, 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 385.2 miles and 7h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 85 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
193 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 85 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 192.6 miles from Anaheim, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop 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 245 decision points cluster between mile 50.3 and 382.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
9
354 mi into trip
|
~6h 39m in
|
CA 85
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 85 toward CA 85 North: Cupertino, Mountain View
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 377B
Toward CA 85 North: Cupertino, Mountain View
8
372.4 mi into trip
|
~7h in
Take the exit toward I 280 North, I 280 South: San Jose, San Francisco
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.
Exit 19
Toward I 280 North, I 280 South: San Jose, San...
8
382.8 mi into trip
|
~7h 13m in
Take the exit toward Alpine Road, Portola Valley
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.
Exit 22
Toward Alpine Road, Portola Valley
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$87.31 one way
$174.61 round trip
$5.76/gal
25.4 MPG avg
135 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.96 | $90.32 | $180.65 |
| premium | $6.09 | $92.39 | $184.77 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $81.94 | $163.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$87
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$112–$137
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 134.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 115.6 | 1 | $40.45 | $18.49 |
| Efficient EV | 96.3 | 1 | $33.71 | $15.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 154.1 | 1 | $53.93 | $24.65 |
Gas CO2
135 kg
EV CO2
45 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.
Destination
West Menlo Park, CA
Evening in West Menlo Park on Saturday
Local time
7:49 PM
PDT
Current temp
68°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
8 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 20m 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?
This route is 99% highway, meaning you'll be on freeways for nearly the entire 385.2 miles. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 182.5 miles on the Westside Freeway. You'll notice consistent high-speed cruising with frequent exits and entrances as you navigate through various urban and semi-urban areas before transitioning to more rural stretches on CA-152.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 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 50.3 miles in near I 5 Truck.
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 24 significant decision points across 385.2 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 50.3 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.2 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 354 miles (CA 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 West Menlo Park, CA, road signs point toward Hollister, San Jose and Mountain View.
Hollister
292.7 mi in
|
~5h 25m
San Jose
292.7 mi in
|
~5h 25m
Mountain View
354 mi in
|
~6h 39m
|
via CA 85
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 West Menlo Park, CA
Full guide →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 20m. Total distance: 385.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 20m 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 West Menlo Park, 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 50.3 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.2 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 354 miles (CA 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.3 hours each way, a round trip means 14.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at West Menlo Park, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to West Menlo Park, CA
Explore more options from Anaheim, CA or browse trips ending in West Menlo Park, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.