Trip from Davis, CA to Anaheim, CA

Drive Time

7h 49m

Distance

421.4 mi

678 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$98

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min

4 AM

7h 40m ★

6 AM

7h 49m

8 AM

8h 7m

10 AM

7h 55m

12 PM

7h 54m

3 PM

7h 56m

5 PM

8h 7m

8 PM

7h 44m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Davis, CA

Stephen Leonardi

Trip Overview

The drive from Davis, CA to Anaheim, CA covers 421.4 miles and takes about 7h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, Santa Ana Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 296.5 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $97.59 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

210.7 miles from Davis, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 50m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 7h 49m highway drive covering 421.4 miles, with most of the trip on Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. The longest continuous stretch is about 296.5 miles on 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 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Westside Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 296.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.9 miles in near US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 421.4 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 9.9 miles (US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 20 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

9.9 mi into trip | ~13m in | US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto US 50; I 80 Business / Capital City Freeway toward Sacramento, South Lake Tahoe

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 82 Toward Sacramento, South Lake Tahoe

13.2 mi into trip | ~16m in

Take the exit toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Redding, Los Angeles

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 4A Toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Redding, Los Angel...

13.4 mi into trip | ~17m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 5 South: Los Angeles

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 4A Toward I 5 South: Los Angeles

372.6 mi into trip | ~6h 48m 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

397.6 mi into trip | ~7h 18m 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 Along This Route

On the drive from Davis, CA to Anaheim, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Santa Ana along the way.

Santa Ana

397.6 mi in | ~7h 18m | via I 5

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Westside Freeway	296.5 mi	5h 19m
I 5 Truck	83.3 mi	1h 36m
Santa Ana Freeway	20.7 mi	24m
Golden State Freeway	5.3 mi	6m
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway	5.3 mi	6m
Yolo Causeway	3.7 mi	4m
Capital City Freeway	3.3 mi	3m
West Lincoln Avenue	1.3 mi	3m

Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 296.5 mi, about 5h 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Davis, CA and Anaheim, CA.

Start on F Street

0.2 mi · 41 sec · F Street

Turn right onto 1st Street

316 ft · 19 sec · 1st Street

Turn left onto Richards Boulevard

0.4 mi · 1 min · Richards Boulevard

Use the left lane.

Turn left

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Use the left lane.

Merge onto I 80

5.3 mi · 6 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 80

3.7 mi · 4 min · Yolo Causeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 50; I 80 Business

3.3 mi · 3 min · Capital City Freeway

Exit 82 Toward Sacramento, South Lake Tahoe Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 13 sec

Exit 4A Toward I 5 North, I 5 South: Redding, Los Angeles Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Exit 4A Toward I 5 South: Los Angeles Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 5

59 mi · 1 hr 5 min · Westside Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

0.8 mi · 48 sec · Westside Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

237 mi · 4 hr 13 min · Westside Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

58 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 5 Truck

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

4.1 mi · 4 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

25 mi · 29 min · I 5 Truck

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Merge onto I 5

21 mi · 24 min · Santa Ana Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 33 sec

Exit 111 Toward Lincoln Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn left onto West Lincoln Avenue

1.3 mi · 3 min · West Lincoln Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto South Anaheim Boulevard

370 ft · 14 sec · South Anaheim Boulevard

Turn right

200 ft · 14 sec

Arrive at destination

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 210.7 miles from Davis, CA, or about 3h 50m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 296.5 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 93 miles or 1h 44m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 210.7 miles or 3h 50m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 35m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anaheim, CA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Davis, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Davis, CA

This is one driving day of about 421.4 miles and 7h 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 93 miles from Davis, CA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 296.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 210.7 mi from Davis, CA · 3h 50m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bakersfield, CA

211 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.

Popular next leg

Bakersfield, CA to Anaheim, CA

138.1 mi · 2h 26m

Pacing Suggestions

Lathrop, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 93 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fresno, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 210.7 miles from Davis, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 296.5 miles.

Arriving in Anaheim, CA

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.

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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultura...

22 mi from route ~56 min detour Free near mile 377.8

View on nps.gov

César E. Chávez National Monument

National Monument

Yes, we can! Widely recognized as the most important Latino leader in the United States during the twentieth century, Cesar Chavez led farm workers and supporters in the establishment of the country's...

28 mi from route ~69 min detour Free near mile 305.1

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$97.59 one way

$195.17 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 147 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.07	$100.64	$201.28
premium	$6.24	$103.57	$207.15
diesel	$5.64	$93.62	$187.24

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$98

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$123–$148

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 147.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $44 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	126.4	1	$44.25	$20.23
Efficient EV	105.4	1	$36.87	$16.86
EV Truck/SUV	168.6	2	$59.00	$26.97

Gas CO2

147 kg

EV CO2

49 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Davis, CA

Morning in Davis on Monday

Local time

8:51 AM

PDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Anaheim, CA

Morning in Anaheim on Monday

Local time

8:51 AM

PDT

Current temp

76°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

27 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

7h 49m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Davis, CA to Anaheim, CA covers 421.4 miles and takes about 7h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck, Santa Ana Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 210.7 miles from Davis, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $97.59 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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

On the drive from Davis, CA to Anaheim, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Santa Ana along the way.

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Trip from Davis, CA to Anaheim, CA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Anaheim, CA

National Parks Near This Route

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

César E. Chávez National Monument

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Davis, CA

Anaheim, CA

Same local time

27 degrees warmer at arrival

7h 49m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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