Origin
Anaheim, CA
Morning in Anaheim on Thursday
Local time
9:04 AM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Anaheim, CA to San Bruno, CA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
7h 36m
Distance
401.7 mi
646 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$92
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 26m
★
6 AM
7h 36m
8 AM
7h 56m
10 AM
7h 43m
12 PM
7h 41m
3 PM
7h 44m
5 PM
7h 55m
8 PM
7h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
San Bruno, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 401.7-mile drive from Anaheim, CA to San Bruno, CA is a feasible one-day trip, taking approximately 7 hours and 36 minutes. With 99% of the journey on highways, it's a straightforward, highway-focused route connecting two points within California's Pacific Coast region. You can expect a fuel cost of around $92 for this trip. Given the duration and the longest uninterrupted stretch of 182.5 miles, planning for two stops is recommended to break up the drive. This route is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between Southern and Northern California.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
200.8 miles from Anaheim, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 46m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 36m. Total distance: 401.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 36m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this 401.7-mile journey, with 99% of the travel occurring on major freeways like the Westside Freeway and Golden State Freeway, eventually merging onto US 101. The character of the drive is consistently fast-paced, with a significant 182.5-mile stretch on the Westside Freeway offering a long, uninterrupted run. While this means steady progress, it's important to be aware that the scenery will largely consist of typical freeway landscapes for the majority of the 7.5-hour trip. The route maintains this highway-focused profile throughout.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Westside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 182.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside 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
9/10
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 22 significant decision points across 401.7 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 4.6 miles (I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.3 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.2 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 22 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.
9
50.3 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
7
110.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 9m in
|
I 5 / Westside Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway toward I 5 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 North
7
400.4 mi into trip
|
~7h 33m in
Take the exit toward San Bruno Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 423A
Toward San Bruno Avenue
8
401 mi into trip
|
~7h 34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 101 North: Downtown San Bruno, San Bruno Avenue West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 101 North: Downtown San Bruno, San Br...
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 San Bruno, CA, road signs point toward Hollister and San Jose.
Hollister
292.7 mi in
|
~5h 25m
San Jose
292.7 mi in
|
~5h 25m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 182.5 mi | 3h 15m |
| Golden State Freeway | 50 mi | 57m |
| US 101 | 46.5 mi | 53m |
| CA 152 | 41.1 mi | 51m |
| I 5 Truck | 37.7 mi | 43m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 21.3 mi | 24m |
| South Valley Freeway | 19.9 mi | 22m |
| West Lincoln Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 182.5 mi, about 3h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anaheim, CA and San Bruno, 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
25 mi
·
29 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 161A
Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
36 mi
·
41 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
183 mi
·
3 hr 15 min
·
Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 403B
Toward CA 152 West: Gilroy, Hollister, San Jose
14
Continue on CA 152; CA33
29 mi
·
33 min
·
CA 152; CA33
Use the straight lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 152
12 mi
·
16 min
·
CA 152
16
Take the exit onto CA 152
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 152
Toward US 101 North: San Jose
17
Merge onto US 101; CA 152
20 mi
·
22 min
·
South Valley Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
22 mi
·
25 min
·
US 101
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 101
25 mi
·
28 min
·
US 101
Use the slight left lane.
20
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 423A
Toward San Bruno Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork
289 ft
·
9 sec
Toward US 101 North: Downtown San Bruno, San Bruno Avenue West
Use the left lane.
22
Turn sharp left onto San Bruno Avenue East
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
San Bruno Avenue East
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue
206 ft
·
11 sec
·
2nd Avenue
24
Turn right
354 ft
·
25 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour, 36-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Anaheim to bypass potential traffic. With 401.7 miles ahead and a fuel cost estimated at $92, budgeting for two stops is wise. You'll encounter the longest stretch of 182.5 miles on the Westside Freeway, so plan your break before or after this segment. While this is a manageable one-day trip, staying flexible with your schedule is key. Keep an eye on traffic conditions, especially as you approach the San Francisco Bay Area, as this is a common congestion point on US 101.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 200.8 miles from Anaheim, CA, or about 3h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 182.5 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 88 miles or 1h 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 200.8 miles or 3h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near San Bruno, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Anaheim, CA
This is one driving day of about 401.7 miles and 7h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 miles from Anaheim, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 182.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 200.8 mi from Anaheim, CA · 3h 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
201 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 88 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 200.8 miles from Anaheim, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 182.5 miles.
Arriving in San Bruno, CA
The final approach into San Bruno, 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 San Bruno, CA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$92.33 one way
$184.66 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
141 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $95.14 | $190.29 |
| premium | $6.18 | $97.69 | $195.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $88.69 | $177.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$92
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$117–$142
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 140.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 120.5 | 1 | $42.18 | $19.28 |
| Efficient EV | 100.4 | 1 | $35.15 | $16.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 160.7 | 2 | $56.24 | $25.71 |
Gas CO2
141 kg
EV CO2
47 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
San Bruno, CA
Morning in San Bruno on Thursday
Local time
9:04 AM
PDT
Current temp
52°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
20 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
7h 36m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 San Bruno, CA covers 401.7 miles and takes about 7h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, Golden State Freeway, US 101. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 200.8 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 $92.33 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 401.7 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.
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 50.3 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.2 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Anaheim, CA and San Bruno, CA, road signs point toward Hollister and San Jose.
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