Trip from Santa Ana, CA to Cherryland, CA

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

Drive Time

7h 14m

Distance

390.3 mi

628 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$90

one way

EV Charging

Fair

4 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min

4 AM

7h 3m ★

6 AM

7h 14m

8 AM

7h 36m

10 AM

7h 22m

12 PM

7h 20m

3 PM

7h 23m

5 PM

7h 35m

8 PM

7h 8m

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

Santa Ana, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Cherryland, CA

Skyler Sion

Trip Overview

The drive from Santa Ana, CA to Cherryland, CA covers 390.3 miles and takes about 7h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Westside Freeway, Golden State Freeway, I 5 Truck for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 225.6 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $89.71 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

195.1 miles from Santa Ana, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 40m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Westside Freeway	225.6 mi	4h 1m
Golden State Freeway	50 mi	57m
I 5 Truck	37.7 mi	43m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway	29.2 mi	33m
Santa Ana Freeway	26.9 mi	31m
William Elton Brown Freeway	17 mi	18m
North Broadway	1.5 mi	2m
Castro Valley Boulevard	0.5 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 225.6 mi, about 4h 1m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on West 1st Street

0.1 mi · 15 sec · West 1st Street

Turn right onto North Broadway

1.5 mi · 2 min · North Broadway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn right onto West Santa Clara Avenue

0.1 mi · 14 sec · West Santa Clara Avenue

Continue on this road

0.3 mi · 26 sec · this road

Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles Use the left / straight / right lanes.

Merge onto I 5

8.9 mi · 10 min · Santa Ana Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

18 mi · 20 min · Santa Ana Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

25 mi · 29 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

2.2 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

1.5 mi · 1 min · I 5 Truck

Exit 161A Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

36 mi · 41 min · I 5 Truck

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

22 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

226 mi · 4 hr 1 min · Westside Freeway

Toward I 5 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

16 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass

1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

Merge onto I 580

18 mi · 20 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

11 mi · 12 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec

Exit 35 Toward Strobridge Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn slight right onto Strobridge Avenue

457 ft · 9 sec · Strobridge Avenue

Turn left onto Castro Valley Boulevard

0.5 mi · 54 sec · Castro Valley Boulevard

Use the straight lane.

Continue on Mattox Road

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Mattox Road

Continue on Mattox Road

162 ft · 4 sec · Mattox Road

Turn left onto CA 185

0.4 mi · 45 sec · Mission Boulevard

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn right onto Blossom Way

0.4 mi · 1 min · Blossom Way

Turn right

271 ft · 11 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 195.1 miles from Santa Ana, CA, or about 3h 40m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 225.6 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 86 miles or 1h 41m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 195.1 miles or 3h 40m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 5m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cherryland, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Santa Ana, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Santa Ana, CA

This is one driving day of about 390.3 miles and 7h 14m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 86 miles from Santa Ana, CA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

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

The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 225.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bakersfield, CA

195 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Santa Clarita, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 86 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Avenal, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 195.1 miles from Santa Ana, 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 225.6 miles.

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 start, short detour

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

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+17147873925

Visit website

Top Coffee Stop

Brot Coffee

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Orange, California

Near the start, short detour

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 start, short detour

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 start, ~10 min detour

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 start, ~12 min detour

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 start, ~12 min detour

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 start, ~12 min detour

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

Costa Mesa, California

Hours: 4–11 pm

+19495005561

Visit website

Central Kitchen at The Lorenzo

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20 mile 27.9

Los Angeles, California

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+12139082400

Visit website

Dupont Centre Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

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 start, short detour

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

Orange, California

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+17146029894

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 111.5

Arvin, California

Hours: 4:30 am–11 pm

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 55.8

Granada Hills, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 55.8

Santa Clarita, California

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Branded Chargers

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 390.3

Hayward, California

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+15108816747

Visit website

Intrepid Escape Rooms Orange County

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour

Tustin, California

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+19498850111

Visit website

Tustin Area Historical Society

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour

Tustin, California

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+17147315701

Visit website

Veterans Memorial Community Regional Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 55.8

Sylmar, California

Hours: 6:30 am–6 pm

+18188337550

Visit website

UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art | Costa Mesa

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~10 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour

Costa Mesa, California

Hours: 11 am–6 pm

+17147802130

Visit website

Los Angeles Plaza Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 27.9

Los Angeles, California

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+12134855572

Visit website

Mission Escape Games

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour

Anaheim, California

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+16572345625

Visit website

Vista Hermosa Natural Park, Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 27.9

Los Angeles, California

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 388.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | North Broadway

Turn right onto North Broadway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

11 mi into trip | ~14m in | I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

56.6 mi into trip | ~1h 7m in | I 5 Truck

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 161A Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck

116.6 mi into trip | ~2h 16m in | I 5 / Westside Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway toward I 5 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 5 North

388.3 mi into trip | ~7h 9m in

Take the exit toward Strobridge Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 35 Toward Strobridge Avenue

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$89.71 one way

$179.42 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 137 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.02	$92.44	$184.89
premium	$6.18	$94.92	$189.83
diesel	$5.61	$86.17	$172.35

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$90

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$115–$140

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 136.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	117.1	1	$40.98	$18.73
Efficient EV	97.6	1	$34.15	$15.61
EV Truck/SUV	156.1	1	$54.64	$24.98

Gas CO2

137 kg

EV CO2

46 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

Santa Ana, CA

Morning in Santa Ana on Sunday

Local time

10:27 AM

PDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cherryland, CA

Morning in Cherryland on Sunday

Local time

10:27 AM

PDT

Current temp

64°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.

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

8 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

7h 14m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

390.3 mi in 7h 14m, mostly highway — 225.6 mi of that is on Westside Freeway.

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

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

Longest single stretch: 225.6 mi on Westside Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Golden State Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North Broadway.

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 20 significant decision points across 390.3 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 0.1 miles (North Broadway): Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles (I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 56.6 miles (I 5 Truck): 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.

On the drive from Santa Ana, CA to Cherryland, CA, road signs begin pointing toward San Francisco along the way.

San Francisco

342.2 mi in | ~6h 17m | via I 580

About the Cities

Starting in Santa Ana, CA

Full guide →

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

Arriving in Cherryland, CA

Full guide →

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

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 14m. Total distance: 390.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 14m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 225.6 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 34 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 Cherryland, 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 34 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Not recommended in a single day. At 7.2 hours each way, a round trip means 14.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Cherryland, 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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