This 105.8-mile drive from Mira Monte, CA to Anaheim, CA is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 12 minutes. With 92% of the route on major freeways like the Ventura Freeway, Santa Ana Freeway, and Hollywood Freeway, it's a practical choice for a single-day trip. The estimated fuel cost is around $24, making it an economical option. Given its relatively short duration and highway nature, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion rather than requiring an overnight stop. The drive traverses the Pacific Coast region of California, offering a direct connection between these two Southern California locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.9 miles from Mira Monte, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ventura Freeway
56.4 mi
1h 5m
Santa Ana Freeway
24.4 mi
29m
Hollywood Freeway
10.3 mi
14m
North Ventura Avenue
5.7 mi
10m
Ojai Freeway
5.7 mi
6m
West Lincoln Avenue
1.3 mi
3m
Route 101
0.6 mi
<1m
Tico Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Ventura Freeway
— 56.4 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mira Monte, CA and Anaheim, CA.
1
Start on Cruzero Street
89 ft·9 sec·Cruzero Street
2
Turn right onto Tico Road
0.2 mi·25 sec·Tico Road
3
Turn right onto CA 33; CA 150
5.7 mi·10 min·North Ventura Avenue
4
Turn straight onto CA 33
5.7 mi·6 min·Ojai Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·45 sec
Toward US 101 South: Los AngelesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto US 101
56 mi·1 hr 5 min·Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 101
0.6 mi·43 sec·Route 101
Toward US 101 South: Los Angeles, Tujunga AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto US 101
10 mi·14 min·Hollywood Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on US 101
24 mi·29 min·Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·33 sec
Exit 111Toward Lincoln AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto West Lincoln Avenue
1.3 mi·3 min·West Lincoln Avenue
Use the left lane.
12
Turn right onto South Anaheim Boulevard
370 ft·14 sec·South Anaheim Boulevard
13
Turn right
200 ft·14 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour and 12-minute drive, consider departing early in the morning to avoid the heaviest traffic, especially as you approach the Los Angeles area. With no designated stops in the data, this 105.8-mile trip allows for flexibility; you can take breaks as needed at the numerous service areas along the freeways. The estimated fuel cost of $24 is quite manageable, but it's always wise to keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly during the 56.4-mile stretch on the Ventura Freeway. Plan your route and be aware of potential congestion points on the Santa Ana and Hollywood Freeways as you get closer to Anaheim.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52.9 miles from Mira Monte, CA, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.4 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 23 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.9 miles or 1h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 47m
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 Mira Monte, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Mira Monte, CA
This is one driving day of about 105.8 miles and 2h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Mira Monte, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Ventura Freeway for about 56.4 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 103.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Tico Road
Turn right onto Tico Road
Navigation decision point
7
11.6 mi into trip|~17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 101 South: Los Angeles
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 101 South: Los Angeles
5
12.2 mi into trip|~18m in|US 101 / Ventura Freeway
Merge onto US 101 / Ventura Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
68.7 mi into trip|~1h 23m in|US 101 / Route 101
Keep slight right at fork onto US 101 / Route 101 toward US 101 South: Los Angeles, Tujunga Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 101 South: Los Angeles, Tujunga Avenu...
7
103.9 mi into trip|~2h 7m in
Take the exit toward Lincoln Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 111
Toward Lincoln Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.32 one way
$48.63 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$25.06
$50.12
premium
$6.18
$25.73
$51.46
diesel
$5.61
$23.36
$46.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.7
0
$11.11
$5.08
Efficient EV
26.5
0
$9.26
$4.23
EV Truck/SUV
42.3
0
$14.81
$6.77
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 19, 2026
Origin
Mira Monte, CA
Morning
in Mira Monte on Tuesday
Local time
9:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Anaheim, CA
Morning
in Anaheim on Tuesday
Local time
9:59 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Santa Maria, CA
53 mi in
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
7 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
2h 12m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 105.8-mile route, with 92% of the drive utilizing major freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 56.4 miles on the Ventura Freeway, so prepare for sustained periods of higher speeds. While primarily a freeway cruise, the transition between the Ventura Freeway, Santa Ana Freeway, and Hollywood Freeway means you'll experience shifts in traffic patterns and road configurations. This drive is less about winding scenic byways and more about efficient travel on well-maintained, high-speed roads.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.4 mi on Ventura Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Ventura Freeway and Santa Ana Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Tico Road.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 105.8 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: near the start (Tico Road): Navigation decision point; at 11.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles (US 101 / Ventura Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 12m. Total distance: 105.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.4 miles on Ventura Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 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 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. There are 2 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Tico Road): Navigation decision point; at 11.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.2 miles (US 101 / Ventura Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Anaheim, CA before heading back.
