Trip from Nevada City, CA to Santa Ana, CA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

8h 56m

Distance

476.5 mi

767 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$110

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min

4 AM

8h 48m ★

6 AM

8h 56m

8 AM

9h 12m

10 AM

9h 2m

12 PM

9h 0m

3 PM

9h 2m

5 PM

9h 11m

8 PM

8h 51m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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town and county seat of Nevada County, California, United States

Nevada City, CA

Wikimedia Commons

county seat and city of Orange County, California, United States

Santa Ana, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 476.5-mile journey from Nevada City, CA, to Santa Ana, CA, will take approximately 8 hours and 56 minutes of driving time. Given the duration and distance, it's best tackled over two days, especially with only two recommended stops. You'll be primarily on major freeways like the Westside Freeway and I-5 Truck, making it a highway-focused drive. Expect a fuel cost around $110 for this trip. This route is a straightforward connection between two points within California's Pacific Coast region, offering a direct path south.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

238.2 miles from Nevada City, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 28m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Westside Freeway	296.3 mi	5h 19m
I 5 Truck	83.3 mi	1h 36m
Santa Ana Freeway	26 mi	30m
Golden Center Freeway	19 mi	25m
Alan S. Hart Freeway	16.8 mi	19m
Capital City Freeway	10.6 mi	11m
Grass Valley Highway	8 mi	11m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway	7.1 mi	8m

Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 296.3 mi, about 5h 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Nevada City, CA and Santa Ana, CA.

Start on this road

0.1 mi · 12 sec · this road

Merge onto CA 20; CA 49

19 mi · 25 min · Golden Center Freeway

Use the straight lane.

Continue on CA 49

1.1 mi · 1 min · Grass Valley Highway

Enter roundabout onto CA 49

107 ft · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway

Continue on CA 49

1.3 mi · 1 min · Grass Valley Highway

Enter roundabout onto CA 49

106 ft · 3 sec · Grass Valley Highway

Continue on CA 49

5.6 mi · 9 min · Grass Valley Highway

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 32 sec

Toward I 80 West: Sacramento

Merge onto I 80

17 mi · 19 min · Alan S. Hart Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 80

7.1 mi · 8 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business

4.9 mi · 5 min · Capital City Freeway

Exit 95 Toward I 80 Business West: Sacramento Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 Business

3.7 mi · 4 min · Capital City Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business

1.9 mi · 2 min · Capital City Freeway

Toward US 50 East, I 80 West: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 15 sec

Exit 4A Toward I 5: Los Angeles, Redding Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min

Exit 4A Toward I 5 South: Los Angeles Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 5

59 mi · 1 hr 5 min · Westside Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

0.8 mi · 48 sec · Westside Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

237 mi · 4 hr 13 min · Westside Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

58 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 5 Truck

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

4.1 mi · 4 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

0.3 mi · 17 sec · I 5 Truck

Exit 158 Toward I 405 South Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

25 mi · 29 min · I 5 Truck

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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 Ana Use the slight left / straight lanes.

Merge onto I 5

26 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 57 sec

Toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 21 sec

Toward Main Street North, Broadway Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto North Broadway

1.3 mi · 2 min · North Broadway

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto West 5th Street

0.1 mi · 16 sec · West 5th Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto North Main Street

0.2 mi · 30 sec · North Main Street

Use the right lane.

Turn right onto West 1st Street

52 ft · 1 sec · West 1st Street

Use the right lane.

Arrive at destination

West 1st Street

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 8-hour, 56-minute drive, consider splitting it over two days to avoid fatigue. Departing early in the morning can help you bypass some traffic. With a longest stretch of nearly 300 miles, plan your fuel stops strategically, as you'll want to refuel before hitting that long segment. Since the route is heavily highway-based, be mindful of passing zones and keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before entering the 296.3-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway.

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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 238.2 miles from Nevada City, CA, or about 4h 28m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 296.3 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 105 miles or 2h 5m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 238.2 miles or 4h 28m 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 238.2 miles or 4h 28m

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 7h 43m

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 Nevada City, 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 Nevada City, CA

Aim for roughly 238 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Santa Ana, CA

Aim for roughly 238 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 105 miles from Nevada City, CA.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 296.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

county seat of Madera County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Madera, CA

238 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Madera, CA

Popular next leg

Madera, CA to Santa Ana, CA

271.4 mi · 5h 5m

Overnight Options

Night 1

Madera, CA

238 mi · about 4.5h in

A practical overnight split lands near Madera, CA after about 238 miles or 4.5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Stockton, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 105 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mendota, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 238.2 miles from Nevada City, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 296.3 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 238 miles or 4.5 hours on the road.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Orange, California

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30 mile 476.5

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+17147873925

Visit website

Top Coffee Stop

Brot Coffee

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Orange, California

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 476.5

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+17146029894

Visit website

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30 mile 476.5

Orange, California

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+17147873925

Visit website

Utopia European Caffe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20 mile 476.5

Tustin, California

Hours: 8:30 am–9:30 pm

+17143525789

Visit website

NEP Cafe - Fountain Valley

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour $20 to $30 mile 476.5

Fountain Valley, California

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+17145168121

Visit website

Memphis Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour $20 to $30 mile 476.5

Costa Mesa, California

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+17144327685

Visit website

Arc Food & Libations

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour $50 to $10 mile 476.5

Costa Mesa, California

Hours: 4–11 pm

+19495005561

Visit website

Central Kitchen at The Lorenzo

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20 mile 442.5

Los Angeles, California

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+12139082400

Visit website

Dupont Centre Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

5 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20 mile 476.5

Irvine, California

Hours: 6:30 am–8 pm

+19497798094

Visit website

Brot Coffee

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 476.5

Orange, California

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+17146029894

Visit website

Jurassic Magic Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10 mile 442.5

Los Angeles, California

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

+12132639741

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 408.4

Valencia, California

+16612554100

Visit website

60out Escape Rooms - Silver Lake

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 442.5

Los Angeles, California

Hours: 10 am–10:30 pm

+13233733101

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 476.5

Tustin, California

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+17147315701

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 27

5 decision points cluster between mile 51.2 and 421.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

51.2 mi into trip | ~1h 5m in | I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward I 80 Business West: Sacramento

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 95 Toward I 80 Business West: Sacramento

59.9 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in | I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward US 50 East, I 80 West: South Lake Tahoe, San Francisco

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 50 East, I 80 West: South Lake Tahoe,...

61.8 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in

Take the exit toward I 5: Los Angeles, Redding

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 4A Toward I 5: Los Angeles, Redding

62 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South: Los Angeles

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Exit 4A Toward I 5 South: Los Angeles

421.5 mi into trip | ~7h 49m 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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$109.52 one way

$219.04 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 167 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.02	$112.86	$225.72
premium	$6.18	$115.88	$231.76
diesel	$5.61	$105.21	$210.41

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$110

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$240–$350

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 166.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $50 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	143	1	$50.03	$22.87
Efficient EV	119.1	1	$41.69	$19.06
EV Truck/SUV	190.6	2	$66.71	$30.50

Gas CO2

167 kg

EV CO2

56 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Nevada City, CA

Night in Nevada City on Saturday

Local time

9:42 PM

PDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Santa Ana, CA

Night in Santa Ana on Saturday

Local time

9:42 PM

PDT

Current temp

72°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.

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

16 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

8h 56m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the route utilizing major freeways. You'll encounter long stretches of consistent speed, including a notable 296.3-mile segment on the Westside Freeway. The main roads, including the Santa Ana Freeway towards the end, suggest a predominantly interstate experience. While not overly technical, the character is that of efficient travel across significant distances, prioritizing getting you from point A to point B.

96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 296.3 mi on Westside Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 51.2 miles in near I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway.

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 27 significant decision points across 476.5 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 51.2 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.9 miles (I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 61.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Nevada City, CA and Santa Ana, CA, road signs point toward San Francisco and Redding.

San Francisco

59.9 mi in | ~1h 14m | via I 80 Business

Redding

61.8 mi in | ~1h 16m

About the Cities

Starting in Nevada City, CA

Full guide →

Nevada City is a city in Nevada County in California's Gold Country. It's known for its well-preserved 19th century downtown and countercultural affiliations.

Top landmarks

• Nevada Theatre — movie theater and former theater in Nevada City, California, United States
• Nevada Brewery — commercial building in Nevada City, United States of America
• Nevada City Downtown Historic District — historic district in California, United States

Arriving in Santa Ana, CA

Full guide →

Santa Ana is a city in Orange County, Southern California and is the county seat of that county.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 296.3 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 238 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

Not recommended in a single day. At 8.9 hours each way, a round trip means 17.9 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.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Nevada City, CA or browse trips ending in Santa Ana, CA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.

Trip from Nevada City, CA to Santa Ana, CA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Overnight Options

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse

Brot Coffee

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse

Utopia European Caffe

NEP Cafe - Fountain Valley

Memphis Cafe

Arc Food & Libations

Central Kitchen at The Lorenzo

Dupont Centre Cafe

Brot Coffee

Jurassic Magic Coffee

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Electrify America Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

EV Range Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Electrify America Charging Station

Firehouse No. 1 Museum

Hurricane Harbor Los Angeles

60out Escape Rooms - Silver Lake

Vista Hermosa Natural Park, Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority

Los Angeles Plaza Park

Intrepid Escape Rooms Orange County

Griffith Park & Southern Railroad

Tustin Area Historical Society

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Nevada City, CA

Santa Ana, CA

Same local time

16 degrees warmer at arrival

8h 56m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Nevada City, CA

Arriving in Santa Ana, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Should I split this drive into multiple days?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Santa Ana, CA

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