Origin
Dana Point, CA
Morning in Dana Point on Friday
Local time
10:13 AM
PDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Trip from Dana Point, CA to Anaheim, CA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
35.2 mi
57 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dana Point, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 35.2-mile drive from Dana Point to Anaheim in California is easily manageable in about 47 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll be primarily on freeways, with the San Diego Freeway and Santa Ana Freeway forming the bulk of your journey. With an estimated fuel cost of around $8, this route is quite economical for a short hop. The highway-focused profile means you'll be covering ground efficiently, ideal for getting from the Pacific Coast region to your destination within the same region without significant time commitment. It’s a practical choice if you’re looking to connect these two Southern California points quickly.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 35.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with 81% of the route on major freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 11.9 miles on the San Diego Freeway. While primarily interstate driving, the transition onto the Santa Ana Freeway and potentially I 5 Truck keeps the pace moving. This isn't a route known for its winding scenic byways; rather, it's about efficient travel between two points in the Pacific Coast region. You'll experience the consistent flow of Southern California freeway traffic for most of the 35.2 miles.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
San Diego Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 11.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on San Diego Freeway and Santa Ana Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7 miles in near I 5 / San Diego Freeway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 21 decision points packed into just 35.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7 miles (I 5 / San Diego Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.4 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
7 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 5 / San Diego Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / San Diego Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
14.4 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward Bake Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Bake Parkway
7
22 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward Jamboree Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 100
Toward Jamboree Road
7
22.4 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
Jamboree Road
Turn right onto Jamboree Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
7
33.8 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward Lincoln Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 111
Toward Lincoln Avenue
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego Freeway | 11.9 mi | 13m |
| Santa Ana Freeway | 8.8 mi | 10m |
| I 5 Truck | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| El Camino Real | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| West Lincoln Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Del Obispo Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Stonehill Drive | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Pacific Coast Highway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
San Diego Freeway
— 11.9 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dana Point, CA and Anaheim, CA.
1
Start on Golden Lantern Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Golden Lantern Street
2
Turn left onto Del Prado Avenue
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Del Prado Avenue
3
Turn right onto PCH
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
Pacific Coast Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto Del Obispo Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Del Obispo Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Turn right onto Stonehill Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Stonehill Drive
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
7
Merge onto I 5
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5 Truck
Toward Bake Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
6.0 mi
·
6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 100
Toward Jamboree Road
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on this road
527 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
13
Turn right onto Jamboree Road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Jamboree Road
Use the left / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto El Camino Real
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
El Camino Real
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto Newport Avenue
357 ft
·
13 sec
·
Newport Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles
17
Merge onto I 5
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 111
Toward Lincoln Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn right onto West Lincoln Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Lincoln Avenue
Use the right lane.
22
Turn right onto South Anaheim Boulevard
370 ft
·
14 sec
·
South Anaheim Boulevard
23
Turn right
200 ft
·
14 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.6 mi from Dana Point, CA · 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.6 miles from Dana Point, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Anaheim, CA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Anaheim, CA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.09 one way
$16.18 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $8.34 | $16.67 |
| premium | $6.18 | $8.56 | $17.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.77 | $15.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.70 | $1.69 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.08 | $1.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.93 | $2.25 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Anaheim, CA
Morning in Anaheim on Friday
Local time
10:13 AM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Road read
47m 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 Dana Point, CA to Anaheim, CA covers 35.2 miles and takes about 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are San Diego Freeway, Santa Ana Freeway, I 5 Truck. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.6 miles from Dana Point, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.09 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 short but busy drive. With 21 decision points packed into just 35.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
The main spots that need attention: at 7 miles (I 5 / San Diego Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.4 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Dana Point, CA to Anaheim, 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.
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