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Create accountDrive Time
51m
Distance
34.3 mi
55 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
13 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Altadena, CA
Stephen Leonardi
The drive from Anaheim, CA to Altadena, CA covers 34.3 miles and takes about 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Santa Ana Freeway, Long Beach Freeway, South Fremont Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19 miles on Santa Ana Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.94 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
17.2 miles from Anaheim, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 22m into the drive .
This is a 51m highway drive covering 34.3 miles, with most of the trip on Santa Ana Freeway and Long Beach Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 19 miles on Santa Ana Freeway.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Santa Ana Freeway and Long Beach Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.6 miles in near I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 34.3 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 4.6 miles (I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.6 miles (Columbia Street): Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 710 North: Pasadena
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
At end of road, turn left onto Columbia Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 210 East: San Bernardino
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Lake Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 19 mi | 21m |
| Long Beach Freeway | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| South Fremont Avenue | 3.3 mi | 7m |
| North Lake Avenue | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| South Pasadena Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Lincoln Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| West Valley Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Ventura Freeway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Anaheim, CA and Altadena, CA.
Start on this road
Turn left onto South Anaheim Boulevard
Turn left onto West Lincoln Avenue
Turn left
Merge onto I 5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
Take the exit
Merge onto I 710
Turn right onto West Valley Boulevard
Turn left onto South Fremont Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Columbia Street
Turn right onto South Pasadena Avenue
Turn slight left onto Long Beach Freeway
Take the exit
Merge onto CA 134
Merge onto I 210
Take the exit
Turn straight onto East Corson Street
Turn left onto North Lake Avenue
Arrive at destination
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.
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 34.3 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 17.2 miles or 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Altadena, CA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Anaheim, 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 Anaheim, CA
This is one driving day of about 34.3 miles and 51m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.2 mi from Anaheim, CA · 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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.
A short stop after about 34.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 17.2 miles from Anaheim, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Altadena, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Altadena, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$7.94 one way
$15.89 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $8.19 | $16.38 |
| premium | $6.24 | $8.43 | $16.86 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $7.62 | $15.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 12 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
EV Charging Along Route
13 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
The Pique - Tesla Supercharger
Anaheim, CA
16 DCFC
Orange, CA
Orange, CA
12 DCFC
KPC Anaheim Medical Center
Anaheim, CA
8 DCFC
Anaheim Towne Square
Anaheim, CA
8 DCFC
Villa Ford
Orange, CA
6 DCFC
BoA CA7-164 (Anaheim, CA)
Anaheim, CA
4 DCFC
Outlets at Orange (Orange, CA)
Orange, CA
4 DCFC
Outlets at Orange
Orange, CA
2 DCFC
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.60 | $1.65 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.00 | $1.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.80 | $2.20 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Anaheim on Monday
Local time
3:11 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in Altadena on Monday
Local time
3:11 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
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