Origin
Anaheim, CA
Afternoon in Anaheim on Friday
Local time
3:49 PM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Anaheim, CA to Northridge, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
52.7 mi
85 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Northridge, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Anaheim, CA to Northridge, CA covers 52.7 miles and takes about 1h 7m 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, Golden State Freeway, Ventura Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.3 miles on Santa Ana Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.11 one way before food or hotel costs.
About the Cities
Starting in Anaheim, CA
Full guide →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.
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 1h 7m. Total distance: 52.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 7m highway drive covering 52.7 miles, with most of the trip on Santa Ana Freeway and Golden State Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 21.3 miles on Santa Ana Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Santa Ana Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 21.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Santa Ana Freeway and Golden State 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.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.7 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 33.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
4.6 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
33.3 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward CA 134 West: Ventura Freeway, Ventura
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 CA 134 West: Ventura Freeway, Ventura
8
44 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Take the exit toward I 405 South, I 405 North: Santa Monica, Sacramento
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 19A
Toward I 405 South, I 405 North: Santa Monica,...
8
44.2 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 405 North: Sacramento
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 405 North: Sacramento
8
48.3 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward Roscoe Boulevard, Panorama City
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 68
Toward Roscoe Boulevard, Panorama City
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Anaheim, CA and Northridge, CA, road signs point toward Ventura, Sacramento and Panorama City.
Ventura
33.3 mi in
|
~41m
Sacramento
44 mi in
|
~53m
Panorama City
48.3 mi in
|
~59m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 21.3 mi | 24m |
| Golden State Freeway | 10.7 mi | 12m |
| Ventura Freeway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| San Diego Freeway | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| Parthenia Street | 3 mi | 5m |
| West Lincoln Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Roscoe Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Woodley Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Santa Ana Freeway
— 21.3 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anaheim, CA and Northridge, CA.
1
Start on this road
200 ft
·
16 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto South Anaheim Boulevard
422 ft
·
21 sec
·
South Anaheim Boulevard
3
Turn left onto West Lincoln Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Lincoln Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
5
Merge onto I 5
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
Toward CA 134 West: Ventura Freeway, Ventura
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto CA 134
0.6 mi
·
38 sec
·
Ventura Freeway
10
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 134
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 134
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 134
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Ventura Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 19A
Toward I 405 South, I 405 North: Santa Monica, Sacramento
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 405 North: Sacramento
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 405
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / sharp right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 68
Toward Roscoe Boulevard, Panorama City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn left onto Roscoe Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Roscoe Boulevard
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto Woodley Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Woodley Avenue
19
Turn left onto Parthenia Street
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Parthenia Street
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
Parthenia Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.3 mi from Anaheim, CA · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.3 miles from Anaheim, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Northridge, CA
The final approach into Northridge, CA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.11 one way
$24.23 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $12.48 | $24.96 |
| premium | $6.18 | $12.82 | $25.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.64 | $23.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.53 | $2.53 |
| Efficient EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.61 | $2.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.38 | $3.37 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Northridge, CA
Afternoon in Northridge on Friday
Local time
3:49 PM
PDT
Current temp
51°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
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
1h 7m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Anaheim, CA to Northridge, CA covers 52.7 miles and takes about 1h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Santa Ana Freeway, Golden State Freeway, Ventura Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.3 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 $12.11 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.7 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 33.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Anaheim, CA and Northridge, CA, road signs point toward Ventura, Sacramento and Panorama City.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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