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Trip from Anaheim, CA to Dana Point, CA

Drive Time

48m

Distance

35.3 mi

57 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

5 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 44m ★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Dana Point, CA, CA

Dana Point, CA

Lindsey Willard

Trip Overview

The drive from Anaheim, CA to Dana Point, CA covers 35.3 miles and takes about 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on San Diego Freeway, Santa Ana Freeway, Walnut Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 14 miles on San Diego Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.17 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

17.7 miles from Anaheim, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 25m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 48m highway drive covering 35.3 miles, with most of the trip on San Diego Freeway and Santa Ana Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 14 miles on San Diego Freeway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
San Diego Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 14 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Diego 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 1.7 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 35.3 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 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 23 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
1.7 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward I 5 South: Santa Ana Freeway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward I 5 South: Santa Ana Freeway
7
5 mi into trip | ~8m 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
7
8.9 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the exit toward Newport Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 102 Toward Newport Avenue
8
12.2 mi into trip | ~19m in | Jamboree Road

Turn left onto Jamboree Road toward CA 261 Toll North: Jamboree Road, Riverside

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward CA 261 Toll North: Jamboree Road, Rivers...
8
33.3 mi into trip | ~43m in

Take the exit toward CA 1: Pacific Coast Highway, Camino Las Ramblas

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 79 Toward CA 1: Pacific Coast Highway, Camino Las...

Towns Along This Route

Between Anaheim, CA and Dana Point, CA, road signs point toward Broadway, Santa Ana, Riverside and Camino Las Ramblas.

Broadway

5 mi in | ~8m

Santa Ana

5 mi in | ~8m

Riverside

12.2 mi in | ~19m | via Jamboree Road

Camino Las Ramblas

33.3 mi in | ~43m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
San Diego Freeway 14 mi 16m
Santa Ana Freeway 12.1 mi 13m
Walnut Avenue 2.2 mi 4m
Pacific Coast Highway 1.8 mi 3m
Harbor Boulevard 1.1 mi 2m
Jamboree Road 0.5 mi <1m
Newport Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
West Santa Ana Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: San Diego Freeway — 14 mi, about 16m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Anaheim, CA and Dana Point, CA.

1

Start on this road

200 ft · 19 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto South Anaheim Boulevard

0.3 mi · 58 sec · South Anaheim Boulevard
3

Turn right onto West Santa Ana Street

0.3 mi · 51 sec · West Santa Ana Street
4

Turn left onto Harbor Boulevard

0.8 mi · 2 min · Harbor Boulevard
Use the left lane.
5

Continue on Harbor Boulevard

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Harbor Boulevard
Use the right lane.
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 5 South: Santa Ana Freeway Use the right lane.
7

Merge onto I 5

2.8 mi · 3 min · Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 57 sec
Toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 10 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 12 sec
Toward I 5 South
12

Merge onto I 5

0.8 mi · 54 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
13

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

0.8 mi · 52 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
14

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

1.2 mi · 1 min · Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 102 Toward Newport Avenue Use the slight right lane.
16

Turn right onto Newport Avenue

0.4 mi · 44 sec · Newport Avenue
Use the right lane.
17

Turn left onto Walnut Avenue

2.2 mi · 4 min · Walnut Avenue
18

Turn left onto Jamboree Road

0.5 mi · 37 sec · Jamboree Road
Toward CA 261 Toll North: Jamboree Road, Riverside Use the left lane.
19

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 21 sec
Toward I 5 South
20

Merge onto I 5

5.5 mi · 6 min · Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

0.8 mi · 55 sec · Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Merge onto I 5

14 mi · 16 min · San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec
Exit 79 Toward CA 1: Pacific Coast Highway, Camino Las Ramblas Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Turn right onto CA 1

1.8 mi · 3 min · Pacific Coast Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25

Turn left onto Golden Lantern Street

132 ft · 7 sec · Golden Lantern Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
26

Arrive at destination

Golden Lantern Street

Trip Plan

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 17.7 miles from Anaheim, CA, or about 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14 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 35.3 miles or 48m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 17.7 miles or 25m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 40m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dana Point, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

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 35.3 miles and 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Anaheim, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on San Diego Freeway for about 14 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 17.7 mi from Anaheim, CA · 25m into the drive

Downtown Irvine, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Irvine, CA

18 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

Irvine, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 35.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Irvine, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 17.7 miles from Anaheim, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Dana Point, CA

The final approach into Dana Point, 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 Dana Point, CA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.17 one way

$16.35 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.07 $8.43 $16.86
premium $6.24 $8.68 $17.35
diesel $5.64 $7.84 $15.68

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: 12.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

5 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Fullerton Town Center - Tesla Supercharger

Fullerton, CA

Tesla

16 DCFC

Fullerton Metrocenter - Tesla Supercharger

Fullerton, CA

Tesla

12 DCFC

Target T1383 (Fullerton, CA)

FULLERTON, CA

Electrify America

4 DCFC

CITY OF ANAHEIM DCFC 2

Anaheim, CA

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

CITY OF ANAHEIM DCFC 1

Anaheim, CA

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 2 Tesla: 2 Electrify America: 1

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 10.6 0 $3.71 $1.69
Efficient EV 8.8 0 $3.09 $1.41
EV Truck/SUV 14.1 0 $4.94 $2.26

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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 50 minutes ago

Origin

Anaheim, CA

Late night in Anaheim on Monday

Local time

2:45 AM

PDT

Current temp

54°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers

NW 5 to 10 mph 16% chance Live forecast

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 13 at 12:17AM PDT until April 13 at 7:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 13 at 12:17AM PDT until April 13 at 7:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

Destination

Dana Point, CA

Late night in Dana Point on Monday

Local time

2:45 AM

PDT

Current temp

--

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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Road read

48m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Anaheim, CA to Dana Point, CA covers 35.3 miles and takes about 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are San Diego Freeway, Santa Ana Freeway, Walnut Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.7 miles from Anaheim, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.17 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 35.3 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Anaheim, CA and Dana Point, CA, road signs point toward Broadway, Santa Ana, Riverside and Camino Las Ramblas.

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