Water
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Santa Ana, CA to Dixon, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 11, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 3m
Distance
424.3 mi
683 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$97
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 55m
★
6 AM
8h 3m
8 AM
8h 20m
10 AM
8h 9m
12 PM
8h 8m
3 PM
8h 10m
5 PM
8h 19m
8 PM
7h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Santa Ana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Dixon, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Santa Ana, CA to Dixon, CA covers 424.3 miles and takes about 8h 3m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
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 264.7 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $96.67 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
212.1 miles from Santa Ana, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 58m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 264.7 mi | 4h 44m |
| Golden State Freeway | 50 mi | 57m |
| I 5 Truck | 37.7 mi | 43m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 26.9 mi | 31m |
| CA 12 | 23.6 mi | 33m |
| CA 113 | 18.1 mi | 26m |
| North Broadway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South 1st Street | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 264.7 mi, about 4h 44m
Traffic on I-5
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 370 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,464 veh/hr typical · worst 3,254
Quietest
2 AM
~475 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 89 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 Santa Ana, CA and Dixon, CA.
1
Start on West 1st Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
West 1st Street
2
Turn right onto North Broadway
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broadway
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto West Santa Clara Avenue
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
West Santa Clara Avenue
4
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
this road
Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 5
8.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
25 mi
·
29 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi
·
41 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
26 mi
·
27 min
·
Westside Freeway
14
Keep left at fork onto I 5
14 mi
·
15 min
·
Westside Freeway
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward CA 12: Lodi, Fairfield
16
Keep slight left at fork
227 ft
·
7 sec
17
Turn left onto CA 12
24 mi
·
33 min
·
CA 12
Use the straight / left lanes.
18
Enter roundabout onto CA 113
14 ft
·
0 sec
·
CA 113
19
Continue on CA 113
18 mi
·
26 min
·
CA 113
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on CA 113
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South 1st Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
21
Turn left onto West A Street
224 ft
·
4 sec
·
West A Street
Use the left lane.
22
Arrive at destination
West A Street
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.
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 212.1 miles from Santa Ana, CA, or about 3h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 264.7 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 93 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 212.1 miles or 3h 58m 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 212.1 miles or 3h 58m
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 6h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dixon, 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.
+
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 Santa Ana, CA
Aim for roughly 212 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Dixon, CA
Aim for roughly 212 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 93 miles from Santa Ana, 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 264.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
212 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, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
212 mi · about 4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Los Angeles, CA after about 212 miles or 4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 93 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 212.1 miles from Santa Ana, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 264.7 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 212 miles or 4 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.
Dos Amigos Vista Point
0.1 mi from route
EZ Trip Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
EZ Trip Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Castaic Truck Stop
0.1 mi from route
Tejon Pass Rest Area - Southbound
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Coalinga Avenal Safety Roadside Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Coalinga - Avenal Rest Area - Southbound
0.2 mi from route
Coalinga - Avenal Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
John "Chuck" Erreca Southbound Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Buttonwillow Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Buttonwillow Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Westley Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Tejon Pass Rest Area - Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Lost Hills Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
John "Chuck" Erreca Northbound Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Westley Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.4 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.8 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.9 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.3 mi from route
Rest Area
1.6 mi from route
Rest Area
1.7 mi from route
Rest Area
1.8 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 116.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Broadway
Turn right onto North Broadway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
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.
6
28.9 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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
7
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$96.67 one way
$193.34 round trip
$5.79/gal
25.4 MPG avg
149 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.96 | $99.54 | $199.09 |
| premium | $6.14 | $102.57 | $205.13 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $99.68 | $199.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$97
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$227–$337
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 148.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 127.3 | 1 | $44.55 | $20.37 |
| Efficient EV | 106.1 | 1 | $37.13 | $16.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 169.7 | 2 | $59.40 | $27.16 |
Gas CO2
148 kg
EV CO2
50 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.
Origin
Santa Ana, CA
Afternoon in Santa Ana on Friday
Local time
4:05 PM
PDT
Current temp
82°F
Sunny
W 0 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued September 1 at 12:43AM PDT until September 1 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued August 31 at 1:21PM PDT until September 1 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Destination
Dixon, CA
Afternoon in Dixon on Friday
Local time
4:05 PM
PDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 8 to 12 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued September 1 at 12:43AM PDT until September 1 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued August 31 at 1:21PM PDT until September 1 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV
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
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
8h 3m 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?
424.3 mi in 8h 3m, mostly highway — 264.7 mi of that is on Westside Freeway.
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: 264.7 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 424.3 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 28.9 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,894 ft
-11 ft
Total Climb
3,365 ft
Total Descent
3,413 ft
Highest Point
2,894 ft
~90.9 mi in
Elevation Range
2,904 ft
Notable High Points
2,894 ft at ~90.9 miles
+1,319 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Dixon, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Fairfield along the way.
Fairfield
381.2 mi in
|
~7h
About the Cities
Starting 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
Arriving in Dixon, CA
Full guide →Dixon is in Solano County in the Sacramento Valley of California.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 264.7 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 212 miles on day one.
Yes — we found about 37 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 Dixon, 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 37 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 28.9 miles (I 5 / Golden State Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.1 hours each way, a round trip means 16.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Dixon, 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, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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