Origin
Calimesa, CA
Late night in Calimesa on Monday
Local time
3:45 AM
PDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Calimesa, CA to Santa Ana, CA
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
61.7 mi
99 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
25 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Santa Ana, CA
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
The drive from Calimesa, CA to Santa Ana, CA covers 61.7 miles and takes about 1h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Riverside Freeway, CA 91, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.7 miles on Riverside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.29 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
30.8 miles from Calimesa, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 37m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 1h 14m highway drive covering 61.7 miles, with most of the trip on Riverside Freeway and CA 91. The longest continuous stretch is about 19.7 miles on Riverside Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Riverside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 19.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Riverside Freeway and CA 91. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 14.5 miles in.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 61.7 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 14.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
14.5 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward I 215: Riverside, San Bernardino, Barstow
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 I 215: Riverside, San Bernardino, Barsto...
7
14.7 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 215 South: Riverside
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 215 South: Riverside
7
35.4 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 50
Toward Main Street
8
52.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
CA 55 / Costa Mesa Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 55 / Costa Mesa Freeway toward CA 55 South: Newport Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 34
Toward CA 55 South: Newport Beach
8
59.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward Fourth Street, Irvine Boulevard
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 11B
Toward Fourth Street, Irvine Boulevard
Towns Along This Route
Between Calimesa, CA and Santa Ana, CA, road signs point toward San Bernardino and Barstow.
San Bernardino
14.5 mi in
|
~16m
Barstow
14.5 mi in
|
~16m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside Freeway | 19.7 mi | 22m |
| CA 91 | 16.7 mi | 19m |
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 14.1 mi | 16m |
| Costa Mesa Freeway | 6.9 mi | 7m |
| East 1st Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| East 4th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Mabury Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West County Line Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Riverside Freeway
— 19.7 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Calimesa, CA and Santa Ana, CA.
1
Start on West County Line Road
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
West County Line Road
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 10 West
3
Merge onto I 10
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 215: Riverside, San Bernardino, Barstow
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 215 South: Riverside
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 215
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on CA 91
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Riverside Freeway
Exit 34B
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 50
Toward Main Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on CA 91
17 mi
·
19 min
·
CA 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 55
6.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Costa Mesa Freeway
Exit 34
Toward CA 55 South: Newport Beach
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 11B
Toward Fourth Street, Irvine Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto East 4th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 4th Street
13
Turn left onto Mabury Street
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Mabury Street
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East 1st Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
15
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 30.8 miles from Calimesa, CA, or about 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.7 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 61.7 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.8 miles or 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 2m
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 Calimesa, 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 Calimesa, CA
This is one driving day of about 61.7 miles and 1h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Calimesa, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Riverside Freeway for about 19.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.8 mi from Calimesa, CA · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 61.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.8 miles from Calimesa, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.29 one way
$28.58 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $14.74 | $29.47 |
| premium | $6.24 | $15.17 | $30.33 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $13.71 | $27.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
EV Charging Along Route
25 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Downtown Parking Garage - Tesla Supercharger
Redlands, CA
Tesla
20 DCFC
Redlands Town Center - Tesla Supercharger
Redlands, CA
Tesla
20 DCFC
Burger King - Tesla Supercharger
Calimesa, CA
Tesla
12 DCFC
Costco Highland (Highland, CA)
Highland, CA
Electrify America
10 DCFC
Tri-City Shopping Center
Redlands, CA
eVgo Network
8 DCFC
San Manuel Village - Tesla Supercharger
Highland, CA
Tesla
8 DCFC
Burger King - Tesla Supercharger
Highland, CA
Tesla
8 DCFC
BOA Redlands Main CA6-130 (Redlands, CA)
Redlands, CA
Electrify America
4 DCFC
ChargePoint Network: 12
Tesla: 5
Electrify America: 2
eVgo Network: 2
Non-Networked: 2
SYNERGEV: 1
Blink Network: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.48 | $2.96 |
| Efficient EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.40 | $2.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.7 | 0 | $8.64 | $3.95 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
Santa Ana, CA
Late night in Santa Ana on Monday
Local time
3:45 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
SW 0 to 10 mph
24% chance
Live forecast
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 13 at 12:17AM PDT until April 13 at 7:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 13 at 12:17AM PDT until April 13 at 7:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Along the Route
52°F
Riverside, CA
31 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.
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
4 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
1h 14m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Calimesa, CA to Santa Ana, CA covers 61.7 miles and takes about 1h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Riverside Freeway, CA 91, Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.8 miles from Calimesa, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.29 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 is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 61.7 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 14.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Calimesa, CA and Santa Ana, CA, road signs point toward San Bernardino and Barstow.
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