Origin
Santa Monica, CA
Late night in Santa Monica on Sunday
Local time
4:51 AM
PDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Santa Monica, 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
57m
Distance
46.2 mi
74 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Santa Monica, CA
Bjorn Pierre
Santa Ana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting the Pacific Coast of Santa Monica to Santa Ana, this 46.2-mile trip is a straightforward journey typically taking about 57 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, you can easily complete the drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $11 for fuel to cover the trip, making it an affordable transit between these two California hubs. Since both the origin and destination are located within the Pacific Coast region, you will experience a consistent coastal climate throughout your travel. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a day trip, the route is designed for efficiency rather than leisure. It serves as a practical link for those moving between the greater Los Angeles area and Orange County.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 26 mi | 30m |
| Santa Monica Freeway | 15.2 mi | 18m |
| North Broadway | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Pomona Freeway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Lincoln Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Golden State Freeway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West 5th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Santa Ana Freeway
— 26 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Monica, CA and Santa Ana, CA.
1
Start on US 66 Hist
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Boulevard
2
Turn left onto Olympic Boulevard
367 ft
·
9 sec
·
Olympic Boulevard
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 10 East: Santa Monica Freeway, Los Angeles
4
Merge onto I 10
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Santa Monica Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Santa Monica Freeway
Toward Western Avenue, Normandie Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 10
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Santa Monica Freeway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60
0.7 mi
·
42 sec
·
Pomona Freeway
Toward SR-60 East, I-5 South: Pomona, Santa Ana
Use the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 1A
Toward I 5 South: Santa Ana
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 5
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Golden State Freeway
10
Merge onto I 5
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
Toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward Main Street North, Broadway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto North Broadway
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broadway
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto West 5th Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
West 5th Street
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Main Street
Use the right lane.
17
Turn right onto West 1st Street
52 ft
·
1 sec
·
West 1st Street
Use the right lane.
18
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.1 miles from Santa Monica, 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 10.6 and 44.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
10.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 10 / Santa Monica Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 10 / Santa Monica Freeway toward Western Avenue, Normandie Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Western Avenue, Normandie Avenue
8
16 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
CA 60 / Pomona Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 60 / Pomona Freeway toward SR-60 East, I-5 South: Pomona, Santa Ana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward SR-60 East, I-5 South: Pomona, Santa Ana
7
16.7 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward I 5 South: Santa Ana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1A
Toward I 5 South: Santa Ana
7
43.4 mi into trip
|
~52m 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
44.2 mi into trip
|
~53m 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
$10.62 one way
$21.24 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $10.94 | $21.88 |
| premium | $6.18 | $11.24 | $22.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.20 | $20.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.85 | $2.22 |
| Efficient EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.04 | $1.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.47 | $2.96 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Late night in Santa Ana on Sunday
Local time
4:51 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
7 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
57m 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 highly efficient, highway-focused experience, as 91% of this route consists of high-speed transit. Your journey relies heavily on the Santa Monica Freeway and the Santa Ana Freeway to navigate the urban sprawl. You will spend your longest uninterrupted stretch on the Santa Ana Freeway, covering 26 miles of steady driving. While the transition into North Broadway eventually brings you to your destination, the vast majority of the 57-minute duration is spent in the flow of interstate traffic. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26 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 Santa Monica Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.6 miles in near I 10 / Santa Monica Freeway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 46.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.6 miles (I 10 / Santa Monica Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16 miles (CA 60 / Pomona Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Monica, CA to Santa Ana, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Broadway along the way.
Broadway
43.4 mi in
|
~52m
About the Cities
Starting in Santa Monica, CA
Full guide →Founded 1769
Anchoring the Westside of Los Angeles County, Santa Monica is a beachfront city popular with tourists for its expansive beach and its famous pier, which are among the most popular coastal attractions in Southern California. Within the city, visitors will find a number of urban shopping districts and plenty of restaurants and nightlife.
Top landmarks
- • Santa Monica Pier — Pier in Santa Monica, California, USA
- • Muscle Beach — outdoor acrobatics and gymnastics platform
- • Pacific Park — amusement park in Santa Monica, California, United States
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 57m. Total distance: 46.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26 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 10.6 miles (I 10 / Santa Monica Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16 miles (CA 60 / Pomona Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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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