Skip to main content

Trip from Anaheim, CA to Calexico, CA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 59m

Distance

205.6 mi

331 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$47

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 47m ★
6 AM
4h 0m
8 AM
4h 26m
10 AM
4h 9m
12 PM
4h 6m
3 PM
4h 10m
5 PM
4h 24m
8 PM
3h 52m

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

city in Imperial County, California, United States

Calexico, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Anaheim, CA to Calexico, CA covers 205.6 miles and takes about 3h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South Anaheim Boulevard, East Lincoln Avenue, CA 57 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.26 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

102.8 miles from Anaheim, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 59m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 59m. Total distance: 205.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 59m drive with frequent turns across 205.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Anaheim Boulevard is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 3h 59m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Anaheim, CA to Calexico, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Anaheim Boulevard
East Lincoln Avenue
CA 57 North
Orange Freeway
CA 91 East
Riverside Freeway
I 215 South
Pomona Freeway

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: South Anaheim Boulevard — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on the route

200 ft · 17 sec · the route
2

Turn left onto South Anaheim Boulevard

423 ft · 23 sec · South Anaheim Boulevard
3

Turn right onto East Lincoln Avenue

2.3 mi · 4 min · East Lincoln Avenue
4

Take the ramp slight right toward CA 57 North: Pomona

0.3 mi · 38 sec · CA 57 North: Pomona
5

Merge slight left onto Orange Freeway

0.4 mi · 31 sec · Orange Freeway
6

Take the exit slight right toward CA 91 East: Riverside Freeway, Riverside

0.4 mi · 36 sec · CA 91 East: Riverside Freeway, Riverside
7

Merge slight left onto Riverside Freeway

2.6 mi · 3 min · Riverside Freeway
8

Keep slight right to continue on Riverside Freeway

31 mi · 36 min · Riverside Freeway
9

Take the exit slight right toward I 215 South, CA 60 East: San Diego, Indio

0.6 mi · 1 min · I 215 South, CA 60 East: San Diego, Indio
10

Merge slight left onto Pomona Freeway

0.3 mi · 22 sec · Pomona Freeway
11

Continue on Escondido Freeway

3.9 mi · 4 min · Escondido Freeway
12

Keep slight left to continue on Escondido Freeway

0.4 mi · 31 sec · Escondido Freeway
13

Keep slight left to continue on Moreno Valley Freeway

16 mi · 19 min · Moreno Valley Freeway
14

Continue on Moreno Valley Expressway

2.0 mi · 2 min · Moreno Valley Expressway
15

Continue on Moreno Valley Freeway

0.6 mi · 42 sec · Moreno Valley Freeway
16

Merge slight left onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

18 mi · 19 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
17

Keep slight left to continue on Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway

32 mi · 34 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
18

Keep slight right to continue on CA 86 South: CA 86 South, Brawley, El Centro

67 mi · 1 hr 17 min · CA 86 South: CA 86 South, Brawley, El Centro
19

Turn left onto Brawley Bypass

3.7 mi · 4 min · Brawley Bypass
20

Continue on Ben Hulse Highway

23 mi · 27 min · Ben Hulse Highway
21

Turn right onto West Birch Street

0.1 mi · 10 sec · West Birch Street
22

Turn slight left onto Harold Avenue

187 ft · 14 sec · Harold Avenue
23

Turn sharp left onto West Birch Street

0.1 mi · 14 sec · West Birch Street
24

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 102.8 miles from Anaheim, CA, or about 1h 59m into the drive.

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 45 miles or 52m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 102.8 miles or 1h 59m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Calexico, 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 205.6 miles and 3h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Anaheim, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 102.8 mi from Anaheim, CA · 1h 59m into the drive

city in Riverside County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Banning, CA

103 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

Corona, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Banning, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 102.8 miles from Anaheim, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Calexico, CA

The final approach into Calexico, 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 Calexico, 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

$47.26 one way

$94.51 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 72 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $48.70 $97.39
premium $6.18 $50.00 $100.00
diesel $5.61 $45.39 $90.79

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$47

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$72–$97

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 71.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 61.7 0 $21.59 $9.87
Efficient EV 51.4 0 $17.99 $8.22
EV Truck/SUV 82.2 1 $28.78 $13.16

Gas CO2

72 kg

EV CO2

24 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Anaheim, CA

Morning in Anaheim on Friday

Local time

10:11 AM

PDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Calexico, CA

Morning in Calexico on Friday

Local time

10:11 AM

PDT

Current temp

87°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

15 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 59m 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 Calexico, CA covers 205.6 miles and takes about 3h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are South Anaheim Boulevard, East Lincoln Avenue, CA 57 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 102.8 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 $47.26 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a straightforward 3h 59m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Anaheim, CA to Calexico, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Anaheim, CA to Calexico, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Anaheim, CA or browse trips ending in Calexico, CA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.