Origin
Willowbrook, CA
Morning in Willowbrook on Sunday
Local time
10:10 AM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Willowbrook, 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
38m
Distance
29.7 mi
48 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 36m
★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 45m
10 AM
0h 41m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 45m
8 PM
0h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Willowbrook, CA
Robert So
Santa Ana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward drive from Willowbrook to Santa Ana, California, covers 29.7 miles and should take about 38 minutes, making it easily manageable as a single-day trip. You'll primarily be on the Artesia Freeway and Santa Ana Freeway, with a short section on North Central Avenue. With a 76% highway share, expect a focused driving experience. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $7. Since both your origin and destination are within the Pacific Coast region and the drive is short, you'll have plenty of flexibility for when you depart and how you spend your time upon arrival in Santa Ana.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Artesia Freeway | 12.3 mi | 14m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| North Central Avenue | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Gardena Freeway | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| North Broadway | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West 5th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Artesia Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Artesia Freeway
— 12.3 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Willowbrook, CA and Santa Ana, CA.
1
Start on this road
199 ft
·
16 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto North Central Avenue
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
North Central Avenue
3
Turn left onto West Artesia Boulevard
133 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Artesia Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward CA 91 East
5
Merge onto CA 91
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Gardena Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on CA 91
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Artesia Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 24
Toward I 5 South: Santa Ana
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 5 South: Santa Ana Freeway, Santa Ana
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 5
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
Toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward Main Street North, Broadway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto North Broadway
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broadway
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto West 5th Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
West 5th Street
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Main Street
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right onto West 1st Street
52 ft
·
1 sec
·
West 1st Street
Use the right lane.
17
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 27.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
West Artesia Boulevard
Turn left onto West Artesia Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
18.5 mi into trip
|
~23m 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 24
Toward I 5 South: Santa Ana
8
18.9 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 5 South: Santa Ana Freeway, Santa Ana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 South: Santa Ana Freeway, Santa Ana
7
26.9 mi into trip
|
~34m 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
27.8 mi into trip
|
~35m 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
$6.83 one way
$13.65 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $7.03 | $14.07 |
| premium | $6.18 | $7.22 | $14.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.56 | $13.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.12 | $1.43 |
| Efficient EV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.60 | $1.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.16 | $1.90 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
10:10 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
38m 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?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 76% of the journey on freeways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 12.3 miles on the Artesia Freeway, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your trip. The main roads, including the Artesia Freeway and Santa Ana Freeway, are designed for efficient travel. While the majority of the drive maintains highway speeds, you will transition onto North Central Avenue, which may offer a slight change in pace as you approach your destination.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.3 mi on Artesia Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Artesia Freeway and Santa Ana Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near West Artesia Boulevard.
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 14 decision points packed into just 29.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 38m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles (West Artesia Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.9 miles: 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Willowbrook, CA and Santa Ana, CA, road signs point toward Broadway and Main Street North.
Broadway
26.9 mi in
|
~34m
Main Street North
27.8 mi in
|
~35m
About the Cities
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 38m. Total distance: 29.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.3 miles on Artesia 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 3.1 miles (West Artesia Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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