Origin
Santa Maria, CA
Morning in Santa Maria on Sunday
Local time
8:53 AM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Santa Maria, 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
1h 20m
Distance
59.6 mi
96 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Santa Maria, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Santa Ana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 59.6-mile journey from Santa Maria, CA to Santa Ana, CA is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. You'll primarily navigate major freeways, including the Ventura Freeway and the Santa Ana Freeway, which make up 89% of the route. With an estimated fuel cost of $14, this drive offers a straightforward and efficient way to connect these two Pacific Coast communities. Given its short duration and highway-focused profile, it's perfectly suited as a day trip without the need for an overnight stop.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 29.6 mi | 35m |
| Ventura Freeway | 12.5 mi | 14m |
| Hollywood Freeway | 10.3 mi | 14m |
| North Broadway | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| 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
— 29.6 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Maria, CA and Santa Ana, 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
29 mi
·
35 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
Toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward Main Street North, Broadway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn straight onto North Broadway
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broadway
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto West 5th Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
West 5th Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Main Street
Use the right lane.
18
Turn right onto West 1st Street
52 ft
·
1 sec
·
West 1st Street
Use the right lane.
19
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.8 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 3.6 and 57.7 — 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...
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...
6
56.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m 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.
7
56.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m 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
8
57.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m 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
$13.70 one way
$27.40 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $14.12 | $28.23 |
| premium | $6.18 | $14.49 | $28.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.16 | $26.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.26 | $2.86 |
| Efficient EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.22 | $2.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.8 | 0 | $8.34 | $3.81 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (67% 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
Santa Ana, CA
Morning in Santa Ana on Sunday
Local time
8:53 AM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4 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
1h 20m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 89% of the 59.6 miles on major freeways like the Santa Ana Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 29.6 miles on the Santa Ana Freeway, offering a consistent pace. This route prioritizes efficient travel over winding scenic byways, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B quickly. The character of the drive remains largely consistent, emphasizing smooth, high-speed transit.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.6 mi on Santa Ana Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59.6 miles you will encounter 14 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 16.3 miles (US 101 / Route 101): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.6 miles (I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Santa Ana, 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 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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 59.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m 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 29.6 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 Santa Ana, 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 16.3 miles (US 101 / Route 101): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.6 miles (I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Santa Ana, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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