Transitioning from the high desert of Yucca Valley to the urban landscape of Anaheim is a straightforward 104.7-mile journey. You can expect to spend about 2 hours and 10 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect one-day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Your path takes you along the 29 Palms Highway, the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, and the Riverside Freeway. With an estimated fuel cost of $24, it is an affordable excursion for those traveling between these two Southern California points. Since both locations are within the Pacific Coast region, you won't experience a drastic change in climate, though the transition from desert terrain to the coastal metro area is notable. It is a practical, efficient route that serves as a reliable link between your high desert starting point and your Orange County destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.3 miles from Yucca Valley, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
29 Palms Highway
20 mi
27m
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
17.9 mi
19m
Riverside Freeway
17.5 mi
20m
CA 91
16.7 mi
19m
Moreno Valley Freeway
16.5 mi
20m
Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
4.4 mi
4m
Escondido Freeway
3.9 mi
4m
Moreno Valley Expressway
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
29 Palms Highway
— 20 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yucca Valley, CA and Anaheim, CA.
1
Start on Palm Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Palm Avenue
2
At end of road, turn right onto CA 62
375 ft·35 sec·29 Palms Highway
3
Continue on CA 62
20 mi·27 min·29 Palms Highway
Use the left lane.
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·36 sec
Toward CA 62
5
Merge onto I 10
4.4 mi·4 min·Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 10
18 mi·19 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·13 sec
Exit 93Toward CA 60 West: RiversideUse the slight left lane.
8
Continue on CA 60
0.5 mi·33 sec·Moreno Valley Freeway
9
Continue on CA 60
2.0 mi·2 min·Moreno Valley Expressway
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on CA 60
16 mi·20 min·Moreno Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 215; CA 60
3.9 mi·4 min·Escondido Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
1.5 mi·3 min
Exit 34BToward CA 91 West: Riverside, Beach CitiesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto CA 91
13 mi·15 min·Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·20 sec
Exit 50Toward Main StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on CA 91
17 mi·19 min·CA 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 91
4.0 mi·4 min·Riverside Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 30Toward State College BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn left onto North State College Boulevard
1.0 mi·1 min·North State College Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
Turn right onto East Lincoln Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·East Lincoln Avenue
20
Turn left onto South Anaheim Boulevard
470 ft·25 sec·South Anaheim Boulevard
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right
200 ft·14 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 2-hour and 10-minute drive, you have significant flexibility with your departure time. However, given the reliance on the Riverside Freeway, try to avoid peak rush hour traffic to keep your travel time closer to the estimated duration. You shouldn't need a formal stop for a trip of this length, but keeping $24 set aside for fuel ensures you start the journey with a full tank. Because the longest stretch is only 20 miles, you will find plenty of opportunities to pull over if you need to stretch your legs or check your route. My top tip is to monitor traffic reports specifically for the Riverside Freeway before you leave Yucca Valley, as this section will likely dictate how smoothly the final leg of your trip proceeds.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52.3 miles from Yucca Valley, CA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 23 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.3 miles or 1h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anaheim, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Yucca Valley, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Yucca Valley, CA
This is one driving day of about 104.7 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Yucca Valley, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on 29 Palms Highway for about 20 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 43.4 and 101.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
43.4 mi into trip|~53m in
Take the exit toward CA 60 West: Riverside
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 93
Toward CA 60 West: Riverside
8
66 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward CA 91 West: Riverside, Beach Cities
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.
Exit 34B
Toward CA 91 West: Riverside, Beach Cities
7
80.9 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 50
Toward Main Street
6
97.9 mi into trip|~1h 59m in|CA 91 / Riverside Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 91 / Riverside Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
101.9 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward State College Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 30
Toward State College Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.06 one way
$48.13 round trip
$5.84/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.02
$24.80
$49.60
premium
$6.18
$25.46
$50.92
diesel
$5.61
$23.12
$46.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.4
0
$10.99
$5.03
Efficient EV
26.2
0
$9.16
$4.19
EV Truck/SUV
41.9
0
$14.66
$6.70
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Yucca Valley, CA
Late night
in Yucca Valley on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
PDT
Current temp
76°F
Sunny
ENE 6 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 18 at 1:22AM PDT until April 18 at 8:00AM PDT by NWS Eureka CA
Destination
Anaheim, CA
Late night
in Anaheim on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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.
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
21 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
2h 10m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 104.7-mile trek offers a mixed driving profile, transitioning from local desert roads to major freeway arteries. About 58% of your trip will be spent on highways, providing a steady rhythm once you clear the initial stretches. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted segment during a 20-mile stretch on the 29 Palms Highway, which allows you to settle into a comfortable pace early on. As you shift onto the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway and the Riverside Freeway, the character of the road changes from open thoroughfares to the more densely trafficked lanes common in Southern California. Be prepared for this shift in intensity as you leave the quieter desert environment and merge into the busier flow of the greater Anaheim area.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20 mi on 29 Palms Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 43.4 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 104.7 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 43.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 66 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
3,358 ft158 ft
Total Climb
1,307 ft
Total Descent
4,508 ft
Highest Point
3,358 ft
Elevation Range
3,200 ft
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 Yucca Valley, CA to Anaheim, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Beach Cities along the way.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 10m. Total distance: 104.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20 miles on 29 Palms Highway. 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 43.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 66 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Anaheim, CA before heading back.
