Anaheim to Yreka is 665.4 miles and takes about 12h 14m via I-5, with a fuel budget near $159 and needs an overnight stop. This long-haul drive spans the length of California, taking you from the Pacific Coast region to its northern reaches, also along the Pacific Coast. You'll primarily be on major freeways, making it a straightforward but lengthy trip. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to cover a lot of ground within the state.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
332.7 miles from Anaheim, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 6h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Westside Freeway
425.9 mi
7h 39m
Cascade Wonderland Highway
128.7 mi
2h 24m
Golden State Freeway
50 mi
57m
I 5 Truck
37.7 mi
43m
Santa Ana Freeway
21.3 mi
24m
West Lincoln Avenue
1 mi
2m
North Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
775
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 425.9 mi, about 7h 39m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 417 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,444 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,071
Quietest
2 AM
~320 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 48 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 Yreka, 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 left at fork onto I 5
121 mi·2 hr 10 min·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 5
129 mi·2 hr 24 min·Cascade Wonderland Highway
17
Take the exit onto 775
0.2 mi·31 sec·775
Toward Central Yreka
18
Turn left onto Foothill Drive
272 ft·5 sec·Foothill Drive
19
Continue on East Miner Street
0.1 mi·13 sec·East Miner Street
20
Turn right onto I 5 BUS; CA 3; US 99 Hist
0.3 mi·28 sec·North Main Street
21
Arrive at destination
I 5 BUS; CA 3; US 99 Hist
Trip Plan
Given the 12h 14m estimated drive time, this trip is best split over two days. Plan to leave early on your first day to cover about half the distance, aiming for a stop around the halfway point. The longest stretch without a break is over 425 miles, so be sure to plan for fuel and rest stops every 100-150 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you approach the northern sections of your drive, as services can become more spread out.
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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 332.7 miles from Anaheim, CA, or about 6h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 425.9 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 146 miles or 2h 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 332.7 miles or 6h 7m 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 332.7 miles or 6h 7m
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 11h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Yreka, 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 333 miles and 6.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Yreka, CA
Aim for roughly 333 miles and 6.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 146 miles from Anaheim, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 425.9 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 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
$139.21 one way
$278.42 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg233 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$144.58
$289.16
premium
$5.67
$148.41
$296.81
diesel
$4.80
$125.64
$251.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$139
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$269–$379
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 232.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $70 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
199.6
2
$69.87
$31.94
Efficient EV
166.4
1
$58.22
$26.62
EV Truck/SUV
266.2
3
$93.16
$42.59
Gas CO2
233 kg
EV CO2
78 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 16, 2026
Origin
Anaheim, CA
Evening
in Anaheim on Saturday
Local time
6:26 PM
PDT
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
SW 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 12:00PM PDT until July 16 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 16 at 11:39AM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
Destination
Yreka, CA
Evening
in Yreka on Saturday
Local time
6:26 PM
PDT
Current temp
89°F
Sunny
NW 8 to 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 16 at 12:00PM PDT until July 16 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued July 16 at 11:39AM PDT until July 17 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Medford OR
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
1 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
12h 14m 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.
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Whiskeytown Lake’s crystal-clear waters are iconic, but this 42,000-acre National Recreation Area offers much more. Explore waterfalls, hike rugged trails, uncover Gold Rush history, and witness the r...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
$15
near mile 573.6
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 45.9
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...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 114.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a long-haul drive, with 80% of it on the highway. You'll experience a significant stretch of 425.9 miles on the Westside Freeway. The majority of your time will be spent on major freeways like the Golden State Freeway and Cascade Wonderland Highway, offering consistent cruising. Expect a lot of highway miles before transitioning to surface roads.
80% 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: 425.9 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Cascade Wonderland Highway. 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 665.4 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 48 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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
Yreka (pronounced wye-ree-kuh) is a city of 7,500 people (2019) in Siskiyou County in the Shasta Cascades region of California. Yreka is home to the College of the Siskiyous, Klamath National Forest Interpretive Museum and the Siskiyou County Museum.
Top landmarks
•Yreka Carnegie Library — library
•West Miner Street-Third Street Historic District — historic district in Yreka, California
The longest stretch is about 425.9 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 333 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 64 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 Yreka, 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 3 meaningful breaks. There are 64 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 48 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, 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 12.2 hours each way, a round trip means 24.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Yreka, CA before the return drive.
