Drive Time
15m
Distance
9.8 mi
16 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
Photo: Stephen Leonardi
The drive from Cerritos, CA to Anaheim, CA covers 9.8 miles and takes about 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Artesia Freeway, Riverside Freeway, South Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 3.1 miles on Artesia Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.27 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
4.9 miles from Cerritos, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 7m into the drive .
The drive from Cerritos, CA to Anaheim, CA covers 9.8 miles and takes about 15m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 9.8 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (CA 91 / Artesia Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto South Street
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto CA 91 / Artesia Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Harbor Boulevard, Lemon Street, Anaheim Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto Harbor Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Artesia Freeway | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| Riverside Freeway | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| South Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| North Anaheim Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Orangethorpe Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Harbor Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| West La Palma Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Anaheim Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Cerritos, CA and Anaheim, CA.
Start on this road
Turn right onto South Street
Continue on Orangethorpe Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto CA 91
Continue on CA 91
Take the exit
Turn right onto Harbor Boulevard
Turn left onto West La Palma Avenue
Turn right onto North Anaheim Boulevard
Continue on South Anaheim Boulevard
Turn right
Arrive at destination
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.
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 9.8 miles or 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 4.9 miles or 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anaheim, CA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Cerritos, 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 Cerritos, CA
This is one driving day of about 9.8 miles and 15m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 4.9 mi from Cerritos, CA · 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
5 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.
A short stop after about 9.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 4.9 miles from Cerritos, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Anaheim, 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 Anaheim, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$2.27 one way
$4.54 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $2.34 | $4.68 |
| premium | $6.24 | $2.41 | $4.82 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.18 | $4.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.03 | $0.47 |
| Efficient EV | 2.5 | 0 | $0.86 | $0.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.37 | $0.63 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Cerritos on Saturday
Local time
3:51 PM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Anaheim on Saturday
Local time
3:51 PM
PDT
Current temp
76°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
75°F
Santa Ana, CA
5 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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