Origin
Anaheim, CA
Afternoon in Anaheim on Sunday
Local time
12:28 PM
PDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Anaheim, CA to Susanville, CA
Drive Time
11h 31m
Distance
596.6 mi
960 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$138
one way
Susanville, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from Anaheim, CA to Susanville, CA covers 596.6 miles and takes about 11h 31m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Westside Freeway, Deer Creek Highway, CA 70 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 304.9 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $138.16 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
298.3 miles from Anaheim, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 31m into the drive .
Drive Character
At 596.6 miles and 11h 31m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Westside Freeway and Deer Creek Highway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 29 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 304.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Deer Creek Highway. 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.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 596.6 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 24 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 none lane.
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 none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 5 North
8
415.1 mi into trip
|
~7h 38m in
|
CA 99 / Golden State Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99 / Golden State Highway toward CA 99 North, CA 70: Yuba City, Marysville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 99 North, CA 70: Yuba City, Marysvill...
8
427.6 mi into trip
|
~7h 53m in
|
CA 70
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70 toward CA 70 North: Marysville, Oroville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
Toward CA 70 North: Marysville, Oroville
Towns Along This Route
Between Anaheim, CA and Susanville, CA, road signs point toward Marysville, Oroville and Chester.
Marysville
415.1 mi in
|
~7h 38m
|
via CA 99
Oroville
427.6 mi in
|
~7h 53m
|
via CA 70
Chester
496.5 mi in
|
~9h 15m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 304.9 mi | 5h 29m |
| Deer Creek Highway | 52.3 mi | 1h 9m |
| CA 70 | 52 mi | 1h |
| Golden State Freeway | 50 mi | 57m |
| I 5 Truck | 37.7 mi | 43m |
| CA 36 | 29.5 mi | 40m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 21.3 mi | 24m |
| State Highway 36 East | 18.1 mi | 26m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 304.9 mi, about 5h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anaheim, CA and Susanville, 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 none lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the none lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
25 mi
·
29 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the none lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the none / 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 none / straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
22 mi
·
25 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
226 mi
·
4 hr 1 min
·
Westside Freeway
Toward I 5 North
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
26 mi
·
27 min
·
Westside Freeway
14
Keep left at fork onto I 5
54 mi
·
59 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 99
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Golden State Highway
Toward CA 99 North, CA 70: Yuba City, Marysville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on CA 99
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Bernie Richter Memorial Highway
Use the none lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto CA 70
22 mi
·
25 min
·
CA 70
Toward CA 70 North: Marysville, Oroville
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn right onto 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
5th Street
19
Turn left onto B Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
B Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on CA 70
30 mi
·
35 min
·
CA 70
Use the left / none lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 149
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
CA 149
Use the straight lane.
22
Merge onto CA 99
9.5 mi
·
11 min
·
CA 99
Use the straight lane.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Toward CA 32: Orland, Chester
24
Turn right onto CA 32
52 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
Deer Creek Highway
Use the right lane.
25
At end of road, turn right onto CA 36; CA 89
18 mi
·
26 min
·
State Highway 36 East
26
Enter roundabout onto CA 36
92 ft
·
6 sec
·
CA 36
27
Continue on CA 36
29 mi
·
39 min
·
CA 36
28
Turn right onto Foss Street
61 ft
·
2 sec
·
Foss Street
29
Arrive at destination
Foss Street
Trip Plan
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 298.3 miles from Anaheim, CA, or about 5h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 304.9 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 131 miles or 2h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 298.3 miles or 5h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 298.3 miles or 5h 31m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 10h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Susanville, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Anaheim, CA
Aim for roughly 298 miles and 5.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Susanville, CA
Aim for roughly 298 miles and 5.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 131 miles from Anaheim, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 304.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 298.3 mi from Anaheim, CA · 5h 31m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
197 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
394 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Chico, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
298 mi · about 5.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near Roseville, CA after about 298 miles or 5.8 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 131 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 298.3 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 304.9 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 298 miles or 5.8 hours on the road.
Arriving in Susanville, CA
The final approach into Susanville, 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 Susanville, CA.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Susanville, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.
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
$138.16 one way
$276.32 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
209 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $142.48 | $284.96 |
| premium | $6.24 | $146.64 | $293.27 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $132.54 | $265.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$138
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$268–$378
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 208.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $63 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 179 | 2 | $62.64 | $28.64 |
| Efficient EV | 149.2 | 1 | $52.20 | $23.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 238.6 | 2 | $83.52 | $38.18 |
Gas CO2
209 kg
EV CO2
70 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Susanville, CA
Afternoon in Susanville on Sunday
Local time
12:28 PM
PDT
Current temp
63°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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
13 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
11h 31m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 Susanville, CA covers 596.6 miles and takes about 11h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Westside Freeway, Deer Creek Highway, CA 70. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 298 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 298.3 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 $138.16 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 3 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 24 significant decision points across 596.6 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 Susanville, CA, road signs point toward Marysville, Oroville and Chester.
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