Trip from Orland, CA to Santa Ana, CA

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

Drive Time

9h 29m

Distance

515.8 mi

830 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$108

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min

4 AM

9h 21m ★

6 AM

9h 29m

8 AM

9h 46m

10 AM

9h 35m

12 PM

9h 33m

3 PM

9h 36m

5 PM

9h 45m

8 PM

9h 24m

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

Best Time

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Orland, CA

Stephen Leonardi

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

Santa Ana, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 515.8-mile journey from Orland, CA, to Santa Ana, CA, is a significant undertaking, estimated to take around 9 hours and 29 minutes of pure driving time. Given its length and the profile of a long-distance drive, it's best planned as a two-day trip rather than attempting it all in one go. The majority of your travel, 99%, will be on major highways, including the Westside Freeway and I-5 Truck, leading to the Santa Ana Freeway. With an estimated fuel cost of $119 and a need for at least two planned stops, this route is a straightforward, albeit lengthy, traverse across California. It's a practical option for those needing to cover a substantial distance efficiently.

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

257.9 miles from Orland, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 40m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Westside Freeway	397.7 mi	7h 9m
I 5 Truck	83.3 mi	1h 36m
Santa Ana Freeway	26 mi	30m
Golden State Freeway	5.3 mi	6m
North Broadway	1.3 mi	2m
Newville Road	0.4 mi	<1m
North Main Street	0.2 mi	<1m
West Walker Street	0.2 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 397.7 mi, about 7h 9m

Traffic on I-5

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 336 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~3,373 veh/hr typical · worst 4,277

Quietest

2 AM

~499 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.8×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 44 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 Orland, CA and Santa Ana, CA.

Start on CA 32

0.2 mi · 35 sec · West Walker Street

Continue on CA 32

0.4 mi · 57 sec · Newville Road

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Merge onto I 5

66 mi · 1 hr 10 min · Westside Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

16 mi · 16 min · Westside Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

79 mi · 1 hr 27 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

For this 9 hour and 29 minute drive, splitting the journey over two days is highly recommended. Aim to start early to maximize daylight hours, especially if you plan to break the trip into two roughly equal driving days. With a longest stretch of 397.7 miles, plan your fuel stops strategically before you get too low, as services can sometimes be spaced out on these long highway segments. The estimated fuel cost of $119 suggests you'll be making a few fill-ups along the way. Considering the 99% highway share, keep an eye on traffic patterns, particularly as you approach more populated areas closer to Santa Ana.

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 257.9 miles from Orland, CA, or about 4h 40m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 397.7 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 113 miles or 2h 3m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 257.9 miles or 4h 40m 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 257.9 miles or 4h 40m

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 8h 17m

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 Orland, 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 Orland, CA

Aim for roughly 258 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Santa Ana, CA

Aim for roughly 258 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 113 miles from Orland, 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 397.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in San Joaquin County, California, United States

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Manteca, CA

170 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Los Angeles, CA

340 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 Los Angeles, CA

Overnight Options

Night 1

Fresno, CA

258 mi · about 4.7h in

A practical overnight split lands near Fresno, CA after about 258 miles or 4.7 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Sacramento, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 113 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Turlock, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 257.9 miles from Orland, 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 397.7 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 258 miles or 4.7 hours on the road.

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

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · home stretch

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Orange, California

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch · 0min to go 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+17147873925

Visit website

Best coffee break · home stretch

Brot Coffee

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Orange, California

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch · 0min to go 2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+17146029894

Visit website

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30

Orange, California

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+17147873925

Visit website

Utopia European Caffe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

Home stretch 4 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20

Tustin, California

Hours: 8:30 am–9:30 pm

+17143525789

Visit website

NEP Cafe - Fountain Valley

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

Home stretch 4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour $20 to $30

Fountain Valley, California

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+17145168121

Visit website

Memphis Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

Home stretch 4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour $20 to $30

Costa Mesa, California

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+17144327685

Visit website

Arc Food & Libations

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~12 min detour

Home stretch 4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour $50 to $10

Costa Mesa, California

Hours: 4–11 pm

+19495005561

Visit website

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

Home stretch 5 mi from route ~12 min detour Moderately

Universal City, California

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+18185099463

Visit website

Dupont Centre Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

Home stretch 5 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20

Irvine, California

Hours: 6:30 am–8 pm

+19497798094

Visit website

Brot Coffee

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Orange, California

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+17146029894

Visit website

Jurassic Magic Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

Home stretch 4 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10

Los Angeles, California

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

+12132639741

Visit website

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Tesla Supercharger

3.4 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, ~11 min detour

Home stretch 4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour

Castaic, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

Home stretch 4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour

Burbank, California

2 mi from route

Griffith Park & Southern Railroad

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Los Angeles, California

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+18188812586

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

Home stretch 3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Los Angeles, California

Visit website

Medieval Torture Museum

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

Home stretch 4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour

Los Angeles, California

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12134147777

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 66.6 and 513.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

66.6 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in | I 5 / Westside Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

460.9 mi into trip | ~8h 22m 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

485.9 mi into trip | ~8h 52m 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...

513.1 mi into trip | ~9h 24m in

Take the exit toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana

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. Toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana

513.9 mi into trip | ~9h 25m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Main Street North, Broadway

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

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$107.91 one way

$215.82 round trip

$5.31/gal 25.4 MPG avg 181 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$5.52	$112.07	$224.15
premium	$5.67	$115.04	$230.08
diesel	$4.80	$97.39	$194.79

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$108

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$238–$348

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 180.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $54 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	154.7	1	$54.16	$24.76
Efficient EV	129	1	$45.13	$20.63
EV Truck/SUV	206.3	2	$72.21	$33.01

Gas CO2

180 kg

EV CO2

60 kg (67% 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 Jul 16, 2026

Origin

Orland, CA

Late night in Orland on Sunday

Local time

12:15 AM

PDT

Current temp

96°F

Sunny

SSE 9 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Extreme Heat Warning

Extreme Heat Warning issued July 16 at 1:29PM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA

Extreme Heat Warning

Extreme Heat Warning issued July 16 at 1:29PM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA

Destination

Santa Ana, CA

Late night in Santa Ana on Sunday

Local time

12:15 AM

PDT

Current temp

86°F

Sunny

SW 10 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Extreme Heat Warning

Extreme Heat Warning issued July 16 at 1:29PM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA

Extreme Heat Warning

Extreme Heat Warning issued July 16 at 1:29PM PDT until July 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego 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

10 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

9h 29m 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.

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...

22 mi from route ~55 min detour Free near mile 462.5

View on nps.gov

César E. Chávez National Monument

National Monument

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...

28 mi from route ~71 min detour Free near mile 391.3

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 515.8-mile route, with a 99% highway share. You'll spend most of your time on the Westside Freeway, I-5 Truck, and Santa Ana Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans an impressive 397.7 miles on the Westside Freeway, indicating significant periods of consistent driving. While largely a highway grind, this route is designed for forward momentum rather than winding scenic byways. It's the kind of drive where you settle in for the long haul, with the landscape likely shifting subtly as you move from the Pacific Coast region of Northern California down to its Southern counterpart.

99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 397.7 mi on Westside Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

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 66.6 miles in near I 5 / Westside Freeway.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 515.8 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: at 66.6 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 460.9 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 485.9 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,891 ft 13 ft

Total Climb

2,252 ft

Total Descent

2,397 ft

Highest Point

1,891 ft

~405.3 mi in

Elevation Range

1,878 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Orland, CA

Full guide →

Founded 1909

Arriving in Santa Ana, CA

Full guide →

Founded 1869

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

Top landmarks

• Yost Theater — historic movie theater and hotel building in Santa Ana, California, later used b...
• Santa Ana Fire Station Headquarters No. 1 — fire station in Santa Ana, United States of America
• Rankin's — historic building in Santa Ana, California, United States

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 397.7 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 258 miles on day one.

Yes — we found about 49 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 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. There are 49 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — 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 9.5 hours each way, a round trip means 19.0 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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