Spanning 677.6 miles from Myrtletown to Santa Ana, this journey covers significant ground along the California coast. You should budget approximately 13 hours and 5 minutes of total driving time, making it a demanding trek that is best tackled over two days. With an estimated fuel cost of $92, planning your budget and stops ahead of time is essential. Since the route takes you from the northern Pacific Coast down to the southern portion of the region, you will experience a vast change in landscape. While it is technically possible to push through in one go, splitting the trip into two days will keep you much fresher behind the wheel.
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
338.8 miles from Myrtletown, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 6h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Redwood Highway
244.6 mi
4h 55m
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
26 mi
30m
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
— 244.6 mi, about 4h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Myrtletown, CA and Santa Ana, CA.
1
Start on Robbie Lane
337 ft·16 sec·Robbie Lane
2
Turn right onto Trinity Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·Trinity Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto Myrtle Avenue
0.3 mi·29 sec·Myrtle Avenue
4
Turn right onto Hubbard Lane
0.3 mi·43 sec·Hubbard Lane
5
At end of road, turn right onto Harris Street
1.5 mi·3 min·Harris Street
6
Turn left onto J Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·J Street
7
At end of road, turn right onto Hodgson Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·Hodgson Street
8
Turn left onto H Street
0.5 mi·1 min·H Street
9
Turn right onto Oak Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·Oak Street
10
Turn left onto F Street
0.4 mi·44 sec·F Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Continue on Fairway Drive
0.9 mi·1 min·Fairway Drive
12
Continue on Herrick Avenue
0.9 mi·1 min·Herrick Avenue
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
14
Merge onto US 101
128 mi·2 hr 37 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 101
5.4 mi·6 min·Willits Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on US 101; CA 20
116 mi·2 hr 18 min·Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
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.
18
Merge onto I 80; I 580
3.8 mi·4 min·Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
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.
20
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.
21
Merge onto I 580
12 mi·13 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
18 mi·20 min·Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
11 mi·11 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
5.9 mi·6 min·William Elton Brown Freeway
25
Merge onto I 5
224 mi·4 hr·Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi·4 min·Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
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.
29
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
25 mi·29 min·I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
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.
31
Merge onto I 5
26 mi·30 min·Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
0.2 mi·16 sec·Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Take the exit
0.8 mi·57 sec
Toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa AnaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·21 sec
Toward Main Street North, BroadwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Turn straight onto North Broadway
1.3 mi·2 min·North Broadway
Use the left lane.
36
Turn left onto West 5th Street
0.1 mi·16 sec·West 5th Street
Use the left lane.
37
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·North Main Street
Use the right lane.
38
Turn right onto West 1st Street
52 ft·1 sec·West 1st Street
Use the right lane.
39
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Trip Plan
To manage the 677.6-mile distance effectively, plan for at least three dedicated stops to break up the long hours. Because this is a multi-region drive, consider leaving early in the morning to avoid peak traffic congestion near your destination. Given the 13-hour drive time, pacing yourself is the most important factor in ensuring a safe arrival in Santa Ana. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially during that 244.6-mile stretch on the Redwood Highway, where service stations may be less frequent. If you choose to split the trip, look for accommodations near the midpoint to ensure you aren't rushing the second half of your travel.
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 338.8 miles from Myrtletown, CA, or about 6h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 244.6 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 149 miles or 3h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 338.8 miles or 6h 50m 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 338.8 miles or 6h 50m
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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Santa Ana, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Myrtletown, 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 Myrtletown, CA
Aim for roughly 339 miles and 6.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Santa Ana, CA
Aim for roughly 339 miles and 6.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 149 miles from Myrtletown, 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 244.6 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 33
5 decision points cluster between mile 255.5 and 647.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
255.5 mi into trip|~5h 14m 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
272.9 mi into trip|~5h 36m 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
273.1 mi into trip|~5h 36m 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
622.7 mi into trip|~11h 59m 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
647.7 mi into trip|~12h 29m 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
$155.74 one way
$311.48 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg237 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$160.49
$320.98
premium
$6.18
$164.78
$329.57
diesel
$5.61
$149.61
$299.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$156
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$286–$396
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 237.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
23 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Target - Tesla Supercharger
Eureka, CA
Tesla
12 DCFC
Raley's - Tesla Supercharger
Ukiah, CA
Tesla
12 DCFC
Bayshore Mall - Tesla Supercharger
Eureka, CA
Tesla
8 DCFC
Laytonville Supercharger - Tesla Supercharger
Laytonville, CA
Tesla
8 DCFC
City of Ukiah Municipal Parking Lot E - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $71 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
203.3
2
$71.15
$32.52
Efficient EV
169.4
1
$59.29
$27.10
EV Truck/SUV
271
3
$94.86
$43.37
Gas CO2
237 kg
EV CO2
79 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 18, 2026
Origin
Myrtletown, CA
Evening
in Myrtletown on Saturday
Local time
6:29 PM
PDT
Current temp
62°F
Partly Sunny
NW 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Santa Ana, CA
Evening
in Santa Ana on Saturday
Local time
6:29 PM
PDT
Current temp
81°F
Sunny
SW 10 mph0% chanceLive 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.
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
19 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
13h 5m 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,...
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...
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...
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 257
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
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 233.7
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 280.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a varied experience as you transition between road types, with 62% of your journey spent on highways. You will navigate the Redwood Highway, the Westside Freeway, and the I-5 Truck route, which keeps the flow moving steadily. Be prepared for a substantial initial leg, as your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 244.6 miles along the Redwood Highway. This mix of arterial roads and major interstates creates a personality that shifts from rural stretches to more intensive traffic patterns as you approach your destination. Staying alert is key, as the road conditions evolve significantly from the start to the finish.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 244.6 mi on Redwood Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
At 13h 5m, 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 255.5 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 33 significant decision points across 677.6 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 255.5 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 272.9 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 273.1 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 Myrtletown, CA and Santa Ana, CA, road signs point toward Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda and San Jose.
The longest stretch is about 244.6 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 339 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 Santa Ana, 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 255.5 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 272.9 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 273.1 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 13.1 hours each way, a round trip means 26.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Santa Ana, CA before the return drive.
