Embark on a 670.8-mile journey from Eureka, CA to Anaheim, CA, a drive that will take approximately 11 hours and 14 minutes. This long-distance trip is best split over two recommended days, allowing for a more relaxed pace. The estimated fuel cost for this extensive drive is around $155. You'll navigate through the Pacific Coast region for both your departure and arrival points, primarily using local roads like 6th Street and Broadway Street before transitioning to the Redwood Highway. With three planned stops, this route offers a substantial commitment for those looking to cover significant ground within California.
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
334.9 miles from Eureka, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 6h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Redwood Highway
245.1 mi
4h 56m
Westside Freeway
224.4 mi
4h
I 5 Truck
83.3 mi
1h 36m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
29.3 mi
33m
Santa Ana Freeway
20.7 mi
24m
William Elton Brown Freeway
17 mi
18m
MacArthur Freeway
16.4 mi
18m
John T. Knox Freeway
13.6 mi
17m
Longest stretch:
Redwood Highway
— 245.1 mi, about 4h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eureka, CA and Anaheim, CA.
1
Start on H Street
246 ft·9 sec·H Street
2
Turn right onto 6th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·6th Street
3
Turn left onto US 101
2.8 mi·5 min·Broadway Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on US 101
129 mi·2 hr 38 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on US 101
5.4 mi·6 min·Willits Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 101; CA 20
116 mi·2 hr 18 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
14 mi·17 min·John T. Knox Freeway
Exit 451BToward I 580: Richmond Bridge, OaklandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 80; I 580
3.8 mi·4 min·Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
0.3 mi·21 sec·Interstate Highway 80
Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San JoseUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi·18 min·MacArthur Freeway
Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, StocktonUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 580
12 mi·13 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
18 mi·20 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
11 mi·11 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
5.9 mi·6 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
15
Merge onto I 5
224 mi·4 hr·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi·4 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
0.3 mi·17 sec·I 5 Truck
Exit 158Toward I 405 SouthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
25 mi·29 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
1.3 mi·1 min·Golden State Freeway
Toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Street, Santa AnaUse the slight left / straight lanes.
21
Merge onto I 5
21 mi·24 min·Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.5 mi·33 sec
Exit 111Toward Lincoln AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn left onto West Lincoln Avenue
1.3 mi·3 min·West Lincoln Avenue
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto South Anaheim Boulevard
370 ft·14 sec·South Anaheim Boulevard
25
Turn right
200 ft·14 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 11-hour, 14-minute duration, splitting this 670.8-mile drive over two days is highly advisable to avoid fatigue. Plan your departure to maximize daylight hours, especially if navigating the Redwood Highway, which can be more challenging after dark. With three stops recommended, you can strategically plan your overnight stay and midway break, ensuring you stay within your $155 fuel budget. A specific tip for this route: be mindful of potential traffic delays when transitioning from local streets like 6th Street and Broadway Street onto the Redwood Highway, particularly in or near populated areas.
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 334.9 miles from Eureka, CA, or about 6h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 245.1 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 147 miles or 3h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 334.9 miles or 6h 44m 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 334.9 miles or 6h 44m
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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anaheim, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Eureka, 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 Eureka, CA
Aim for roughly 335 miles and 6.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Anaheim, CA
Aim for roughly 335 miles and 6.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 147 miles from Eureka, 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 Redwood Highway for about 245.1 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 253.9 and 646.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
253.9 mi into trip|~5h 10m in|I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 451B
Toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland
8
271.3 mi into trip|~5h 32m in|I 580 / Interstate Highway 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / Interstate Highway 80 toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oaklan...
8
271.5 mi into trip|~5h 32m in|I 580 / MacArthur Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / MacArthur Freeway toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockt...
8
621.1 mi into trip|~11h 55m in|I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 405 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
8
646.1 mi into trip|~12h 25m in|I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Golden State Freeway toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Street, Santa Ana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Stre...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$153.97 one way
$307.94 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg234 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$158.67
$317.33
premium
$6.18
$162.91
$325.82
diesel
$5.61
$147.91
$295.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$154
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$284–$394
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 234.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $70 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
201
2
$70.34
$32.16
Efficient EV
167.5
1
$58.62
$26.80
EV Truck/SUV
268
3
$93.79
$42.87
Gas CO2
234 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Eureka, CA
Evening
in Eureka on Saturday
Local time
6:25 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Anaheim, CA
Evening
in Anaheim on Saturday
Local time
6:25 PM
PDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Clear
SE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 5:29AM PDT until April 17 at 2:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 17 at 5:29AM PDT until April 17 at 2:00PM 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
4 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 55m 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.
Muir Woods National Monument
National Monument
Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
$15
near mile 254.1
Caution: Auto-Theft Warning - Only Bring What You Need to the Park
Experience a park so rich it supports 19 distinct ecosystems with over 2,000 plant and animal species. Go for a hike, enjoy a vista, have a picnic or learn about the centuries of overlapping history f...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 254.1
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Celebrate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of American civilians on the WWII home front. Discover how diverse communities lived, worked, and interacted. Many faces, many stories, many truths...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 254.1
Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park celebrates America’s maritime heritage on the Pacific Coast. Our 50-acre park has grown around Aquatic Park Cove, a protected area...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 254.1
From its thunderous ocean breakers crashing against rocky headlands and expansive sand beaches to its open grasslands, brushy hillsides, and forested ridges, Point Reyes offers visitors over 1500 spec...
19 mi from route
~47 min detour
Free
near mile 231
On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two s...
21 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 277.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized by its significant share of local roads, with a 0% highway segment, meaning you'll be experiencing a more intimate drive through towns and communities. You'll primarily be on the Redwood Highway, which often implies a more scenic, potentially winding path rather than a high-speed interstate experience. The drive progresses through varied terrain typical of the California coast, moving from the northern redwood region southwards. While there's no longest uninterrupted stretch explicitly defined, expect a continuous engagement with the road rather than long periods of monotonous highway cruising.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 245.1 mi on Redwood Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
At 12h 55m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 253.9 miles in near I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway.
Driving Effort9/10
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 21 significant decision points across 669.9 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 253.9 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 271.3 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 271.5 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): 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.
Between Eureka, CA and Anaheim, CA, road signs point toward Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda and San Jose.
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 245.1 miles on Redwood Highway. 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 335 miles on day one.
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 Anaheim, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 253.9 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 271.3 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 271.5 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Muir Woods National Monument, Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 12.9 hours each way, a round trip means 25.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Anaheim, CA before the return drive.
