Origin
Santa Maria, CA
Morning in Santa Maria on Sunday
Local time
8:51 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Santa Maria, CA to Anaheim, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
53.4 mi
86 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Santa Maria, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 54.2 miles between Santa Maria and Anaheim, this trip is a manageable journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 19 minutes. Because the entire route stays within the Pacific Coast region of California, you won’t have to worry about major climate shifts or significant regional transitions. You can easily complete this drive in a single day, making it an ideal candidate for a quick excursion. Budgeting approximately $13 for fuel should keep you covered for the trip. Since there are no designated stops, it is best to view this as a straightforward transit rather than a multi-day road trip. Consider your schedule and departure time carefully to ensure you get the most out of your day on the road.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 24.4 mi | 29m |
| Ventura Freeway | 12.5 mi | 14m |
| Hollywood Freeway | 10.3 mi | 14m |
| West Lincoln Avenue | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Canoga Avenue | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| Mulholland Drive | 1.1 mi | 3m |
| Route 101 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Santa Maria Road | 0.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Santa Ana Freeway
— 24.4 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Maria, CA and Anaheim, CA.
1
Start on Santa Maria Road
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Santa Maria Road
2
Continue on Mulholland Drive
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Mulholland Drive
3
Turn right onto Alhama Drive
427 ft
·
15 sec
·
Alhama Drive
4
Turn left onto Golondrina Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Golondrina Street
5
Turn right onto Saltillo Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Saltillo Street
6
At end of road, turn right onto Canoga Avenue
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Canoga Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Toward US 101 South: Ventura Freeway, Los Angeles
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto US 101
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 101
0.6 mi
·
43 sec
·
Route 101
Toward US 101 South: Los Angeles, Tujunga Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto US 101
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Hollywood Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 101
24 mi
·
29 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 111
Toward Lincoln Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto West Lincoln Avenue
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
West Lincoln Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto South Anaheim Boulevard
370 ft
·
14 sec
·
South Anaheim Boulevard
15
Turn right
200 ft
·
14 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.7 miles from Santa Maria, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 3.6 and 51.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
3.6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the ramp toward US 101 South: Ventura Freeway, Los Angeles
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward US 101 South: Ventura Freeway, Los Angel...
5
3.8 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
US 101 / Ventura Freeway
Merge onto US 101 / Ventura Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
16.3 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
US 101 / Route 101
Keep slight right at fork onto US 101 / Route 101 toward US 101 South: Los Angeles, Tujunga Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 101 South: Los Angeles, Tujunga Avenu...
5
17 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
US 101 / Hollywood Freeway
Merge onto US 101 / Hollywood Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
51.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward Lincoln Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 111
Toward Lincoln Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.27 one way
$24.55 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $12.65 | $25.30 |
| premium | $6.18 | $12.99 | $25.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.79 | $23.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16 | 0 | $5.61 | $2.56 |
| Efficient EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.67 | $2.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.48 | $3.42 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Destination
Anaheim, CA
Morning in Anaheim on Sunday
Local time
8:51 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Clear
SE 0 to 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 18 at 1:22AM PDT until April 18 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
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
13 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
1h 14m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route relies entirely on surface streets like Mulholland Drive, Alhama Drive, and Golondrina Street, with a highway share of 0%. Because you are navigating local roads for the duration of the 54.2-mile stretch, the pace is dictated by turns and local traffic flow rather than open-road cruising. You won't find any long, uninterrupted highway stretches here, so be prepared for a more technical driving experience. Staying alert is essential as you transition through the various turns that define the character of this path.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.4 mi on Santa Ana Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Santa Ana Freeway and Ventura Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.4 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.8 miles (US 101 / Ventura Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.3 miles (US 101 / Route 101): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,321 ft
68 ft
Total Climb
236 ft
Total Descent
1,399 ft
Highest Point
1,321 ft
Elevation Range
1,253 ft
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 Maria, CA to Anaheim, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Los Angeles along the way.
Los Angeles
3.6 mi in
|
~11m
About the Cities
Starting in Santa Maria, CA
Full guide →Founded 1874
Santa Maria is a city in Santa Barbara County in California.
Arriving in Anaheim, CA
Full guide →Founded 1857
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. It is best known for being the home of Disneyland. Its second claim to fame is hosting the National Hockey League's Anaheim Ducks and Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels.
Top landmarks
- • Disneyland — American theme park in California owned by The Walt Disney Company
- • Disney California Adventure — theme park in California, part of Disneyland Resort
- • Soarin' — flight motion simulator attraction at Disney parks
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 1h 14m. Total distance: 53.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.4 miles on Santa Ana Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Anaheim, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.8 miles (US 101 / Ventura Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.3 miles (US 101 / Route 101): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Anaheim, CA before heading back.
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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