Origin
Bayside, CA
Afternoon in Bayside on Tuesday
Local time
12:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bayside, CA to Santa Ana, CA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
13h 13m
Distance
682.7 mi
1,099 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$157
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
13h 2m
★
6 AM
13h 14m
8 AM
13h 38m
10 AM
13h 22m
12 PM
13h 20m
3 PM
13h 23m
5 PM
13h 36m
8 PM
13h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Santa Ana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Bayside, CA to Santa Ana, CA covers 682.7 miles and takes about 13h 13m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Redwood Highway, Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 249.4 miles on Redwood Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $156.91 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
341.3 miles from Bayside, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6h 55m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
At 682.7 miles and 13h 13m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Redwood Highway and Westside Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Redwood Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 249.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 13h 13m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 260.5 miles in near I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 682.7 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 260.5 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 277.9 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 278.1 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 27 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
260.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 22m in
|
I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 451B
Toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland
8
277.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 44m in
|
I 580 / Interstate Highway 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / Interstate Highway 80 toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oaklan...
8
278.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 44m in
|
I 580 / MacArthur Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / MacArthur Freeway toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockt...
8
627.7 mi into trip
|
~12h 7m in
|
I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 405 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
8
652.7 mi into trip
|
~12h 37m in
|
I 5 / Golden State Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Golden State Freeway toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Street, Santa Ana
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Stre...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bayside, CA and Santa Ana, CA, road signs point toward Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda and San Jose.
Oakland
260.5 mi in
|
~5h 22m
|
via I 580
Hayward
277.9 mi in
|
~5h 44m
|
via I 580
Stockton
277.9 mi in
|
~5h 44m
|
via I 580
Alameda
277.9 mi in
|
~5h 44m
|
via I 580
San Jose
277.9 mi in
|
~5h 44m
|
via I 580
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Redwood Highway | 249.4 mi | 5h 2m |
| Westside Freeway | 224.4 mi | 4h |
| I 5 Truck | 83.3 mi | 1h 36m |
| Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway | 29.3 mi | 33m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 26 mi | 30m |
| William Elton Brown Freeway | 17 mi | 18m |
| MacArthur Freeway | 16.4 mi | 18m |
| John T. Knox Freeway | 13.6 mi | 17m |
Longest stretch:
Redwood Highway
— 249.4 mi, about 5h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bayside, CA and Santa Ana, CA.
1
Start on Jacoby Creek Road
103 ft
·
11 sec
·
Jacoby Creek Road
2
Continue on Jacoby Creek Road
145 ft
·
3 sec
·
Jacoby Creek Road
3
Enter roundabout onto Old Arcata Road
122 ft
·
4 sec
·
Old Arcata Road
4
Continue on Old Arcata Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Arcata Road
5
Turn right onto Bayside Cutoff
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Bayside Cutoff
6
At end of road, turn left onto US 101
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on US 101
1.5 mi
·
4 min
·
4th Street
Use the left / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto US 101
3.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Broadway Street
Use the left / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 101
129 mi
·
2 hr 38 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on US 101
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Willits Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on US 101; CA 20
116 mi
·
2 hr 18 min
·
Redwood Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
14 mi
·
17 min
·
John T. Knox Freeway
Exit 451B
Toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 80; I 580
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
Interstate Highway 80
Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
16 mi
·
18 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 580
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 580
11 mi
·
11 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 580
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
20
Merge onto I 5
224 mi
·
4 hr
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck
25 mi
·
29 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Toward CA 60 East, I 5 South: Pomona, Soto Street, Santa Ana
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
26
Merge onto I 5
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
Toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward Main Street North, Broadway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Turn straight onto North Broadway
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broadway
Use the left lane.
31
Turn left onto West 5th Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
West 5th Street
Use the left lane.
32
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Main Street
Use the right lane.
33
Turn right onto West 1st Street
52 ft
·
1 sec
·
West 1st Street
Use the right lane.
34
Arrive at destination
West 1st 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 341.3 miles from Bayside, CA, or about 6h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 249.4 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 150 miles or 3h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 341.3 miles or 6h 55m 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 341.3 miles or 6h 55m
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 12h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Santa Ana, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bayside, 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 Bayside, CA
Aim for roughly 341 miles and 6.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Santa Ana, CA
Aim for roughly 341 miles and 6.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 150 miles from Bayside, 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 Redwood Highway for about 249.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 341.3 mi from Bayside, CA · 6h 55m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
225 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
451 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 Hayward, CAOvernight Options
Night 1
341 mi · about 6.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Windsor, CA after about 341 miles or 6.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 150 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 341.3 miles from Bayside, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Redwood Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 249.4 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 341 miles or 6.6 hours on the road.
Arriving in Santa Ana, CA
The final approach into Santa Ana, 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 Santa Ana, CA.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Santa Ana, 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
$156.91 one way
$313.83 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
239 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $161.70 | $323.40 |
| premium | $6.18 | $166.03 | $332.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $150.73 | $301.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$157
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$287–$397
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 238.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $72 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 204.8 | 2 | $71.68 | $32.77 |
| Efficient EV | 170.7 | 1 | $59.74 | $27.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 273.1 | 3 | $95.58 | $43.69 |
Gas CO2
239 kg
EV CO2
80 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
Santa Ana, CA
Afternoon in Santa Ana on Tuesday
Local time
12:59 PM
PDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Hayward, CA
451 mi in
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
31 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
13h 13m 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 Bayside, CA to Santa Ana, CA covers 682.7 miles and takes about 13h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Redwood Highway, Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck. 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 341 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 341.3 miles from Bayside, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $156.91 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 27 significant decision points across 682.7 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 260.5 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 277.9 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 278.1 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Bayside, CA and Santa Ana, CA, road signs point toward Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda and San Jose.
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