Origin
Cudahy, CA
Afternoon in Cudahy on Sunday
Local time
1:33 PM
PDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cudahy, CA to Santa Ana, CA
Drive Time
35m
Distance
25.2 mi
41 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cudahy, CA
Efrem Efre
Santa Ana, CA
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Cudahy to Santa Ana, you are looking at a manageable 25.2-mile trek through the Pacific Coast region. You can expect to spend about 35 minutes on the road, making this an ideal candidate for a simple one-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $6, it is a very cost-effective commute between these two California cities. Since the distance is relatively short, there is no need to worry about overnight logistics or mid-trip hotel stays. This route serves as a straightforward connection between urban hubs, perfect for travelers who prefer efficiency over long-distance exploration. Whether you are running errands or heading out for a day of local activity, this drive gets you to your destination with minimal fuss.
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
12.6 miles from Cudahy, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip features a mixed driving profile, balancing high-speed highway travel with local navigation. You will spend about 56% of your journey on the Santa Ana Freeway, which serves as the backbone of your route. Your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 14.2 miles on that freeway, providing a consistent pace before you transition into local roads like Firestone Boulevard and North Broadway. Expect the character of the drive to shift from the steady flow of the highway to the more stop-and-go nature of city streets as you approach Santa Ana. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that requires you to stay alert as you exit the main thoroughfare and navigate the final city-street segments.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Santa Ana Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 14.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 22.2 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 13 significant decision points across 25.2 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 22.2 miles (I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
22.2 mi into trip
|
~30m 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 straight / slight right lanes.
7
22.4 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
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 Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
8
23.2 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Main Street North, Broadway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Main Street North, Broadway
6
24.8 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
West 5th Street
Turn left onto West 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
24.9 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
North Main Street
Turn right onto North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Towns Along This Route
Between Cudahy, CA and Santa Ana, CA, road signs point toward Broadway and Main Street North.
Broadway
22.4 mi in
|
~31m
Main Street North
23.2 mi in
|
~31m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 14.2 mi | 16m |
| Firestone Boulevard | 6 mi | 9m |
| North Broadway | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Atlantic Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Imperial Highway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| North Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West 5th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Santa Ana Freeway
— 14.2 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cudahy, CA and Santa Ana, CA.
1
Start on Atlantic Avenue
463 ft
·
18 sec
·
Atlantic Avenue
Use the none lane.
2
Continue on Atlantic Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Atlantic Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto Firestone Boulevard
6.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Firestone Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4
Turn slight left onto Imperial Highway
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
Imperial Highway
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 5 South: Los Angeles
6
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
this road
Toward I 5 South: Santa Ana
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Merge onto I 5
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
Toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward Main Street North, Broadway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn straight onto North Broadway
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broadway
Use the none lane.
12
Turn left onto West 5th Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
West 5th Street
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Main Street
Use the right lane.
14
Turn right onto West 1st Street
52 ft
·
1 sec
·
West 1st Street
Use the right lane.
15
Arrive at destination
West 1st Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 35-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though you should always check local traffic patterns before heading out. Because there are no mandatory stops required for a trip of this length, you can easily complete the entire 25.2-mile distance without needing to refuel or break for rest. Keep your $6 fuel budget in mind, but remember that idling in heavy traffic could impact your efficiency. A smart tip for this specific route is to familiarize yourself with your transition points from the Santa Ana Freeway onto North Broadway, as moving from high-speed highway lanes to city traffic is where you will experience the most change in pace. Enjoy the simplicity of this short regional hop and the ease of reaching your destination in under an hour.
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 12.6 miles from Cudahy, CA, or about 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.2 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 25.2 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 12.6 miles or 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 29m
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 Cudahy, 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 Cudahy, CA
This is one driving day of about 25.2 miles and 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cudahy, 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 Santa Ana Freeway for about 14.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 12.6 mi from Cudahy, CA · 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
13 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 25.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 12.6 miles from Cudahy, 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
$5.84 one way
$11.67 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $6.02 | $12.04 |
| premium | $6.24 | $6.19 | $12.39 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.60 | $11.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.65 | $1.21 |
| Efficient EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.20 | $1.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.53 | $1.61 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Destination
Santa Ana, CA
Afternoon in Santa Ana on Sunday
Local time
1:33 PM
PDT
Current temp
75°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
20 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
35m 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 Cudahy, CA to Santa Ana, CA covers 25.2 miles and takes about 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Santa Ana Freeway, Firestone Boulevard, North Broadway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.6 miles from Cudahy, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.84 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 13 significant decision points across 25.2 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 22.2 miles (I 5 / Santa Ana Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Cudahy, CA and Santa Ana, CA, road signs point toward Broadway and Main Street North.
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