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Trip from Desert Hot Springs, CA to Anaheim, CA

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

1h 53m

Distance

92.3 mi

149 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 46m ★
6 AM
1h 54m
8 AM
2h 11m
10 AM
2h 0m
12 PM
1h 58m
3 PM
2h 1m
5 PM
2h 10m
8 PM
1h 49m

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

city in Riverside County, California, United States

Desert Hot Springs, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Desert Hot Springs, CA to Anaheim, CA covers 92.3 miles and takes about 1h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Riverside Freeway, CA 91 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.9 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.21 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

46.2 miles from Desert Hot Springs, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 1h 53m highway drive covering 92.3 miles, with most of the trip on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway and Riverside Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 17.9 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 17.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway and Riverside Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 31 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 92.3 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 31 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

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

7
31 mi into trip | ~37m in

Take the exit toward CA 60 West: Riverside

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Exit 93 Toward CA 60 West: Riverside
8
53.6 mi into trip | ~1h 5m in

Take the exit toward CA 91 West: Riverside, Beach Cities

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 34B Toward CA 91 West: Riverside, Beach Cities
7
68.6 mi into trip | ~1h 23m 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
6
85.5 mi into trip | ~1h 43m in | CA 91 / Riverside Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 91 / Riverside Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.
7
89.5 mi into trip | ~1h 47m in

Take the exit toward State College Boulevard

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 30 Toward State College Boulevard

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Desert Hot Springs, CA to Anaheim, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Beach Cities along the way.

Beach Cities

53.6 mi in | ~1h 5m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway 17.9 mi 19m
Riverside Freeway 17.5 mi 20m
CA 91 16.7 mi 19m
Moreno Valley Freeway 16.5 mi 20m
Pierson Boulevard 5 mi 9m
Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway 4.4 mi 4m
Escondido Freeway 3.9 mi 4m
29 Palms Highway 3 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway — 17.9 mi, about 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Desert Hot Springs, CA and Anaheim, CA.

1

Start on this road

203 ft · 16 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto Pierson Boulevard

5.0 mi · 9 min · Pierson Boulevard
3

Turn left onto CA 62

3.0 mi · 3 min · 29 Palms Highway
Use the straight / left lanes.
4

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 36 sec
Toward CA 62
5

Merge onto I 10

4.4 mi · 4 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Continue on I 10

18 mi · 19 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 13 sec
Exit 93 Toward CA 60 West: Riverside Use the slight left lane.
8

Continue on CA 60

0.5 mi · 33 sec · Moreno Valley Freeway
9

Continue on CA 60

2.0 mi · 2 min · Moreno Valley Expressway
Use the straight lane.
10

Continue on CA 60

16 mi · 20 min · Moreno Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Merge onto I 215; CA 60

3.9 mi · 4 min · Escondido Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

1.5 mi · 3 min
Exit 34B Toward CA 91 West: Riverside, Beach Cities Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Merge onto CA 91

13 mi · 15 min · Riverside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 20 sec
Exit 50 Toward Main Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Continue on CA 91

17 mi · 19 min · CA 91
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 91

4.0 mi · 4 min · Riverside Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
17

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Exit 30 Toward State College Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Turn left onto North State College Boulevard

1.0 mi · 1 min · North State College Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
19

Turn right onto East Lincoln Avenue

1.5 mi · 2 min · East Lincoln Avenue
20

Turn left onto South Anaheim Boulevard

470 ft · 25 sec · South Anaheim Boulevard
Use the left lane.
21

Turn right

200 ft · 14 sec
22

Arrive at destination

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 46.2 miles from Desert Hot Springs, CA, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 17.9 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 80 miles or 1h 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 46.2 miles or 56m 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 32m

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 Desert Hot Springs, 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 Desert Hot Springs, CA

This is one driving day of about 92.3 miles and 1h 53m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Desert Hot Springs, 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 Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 17.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 46.2 mi from Desert Hot Springs, CA · 56m into the drive

county seat of Riverside County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Riverside, CA

46 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

Riverside, CA to Anaheim, CA

35.4 mi · 44m

Pacing Suggestions

Santa Ana, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Moreno Valley, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 46.2 miles from Desert Hot Springs, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$21.21 one way

$42.43 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 32 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.02 $21.86 $43.72
premium $6.18 $22.45 $44.89
diesel $5.61 $20.38 $40.76

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 32.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 27.7 0 $9.69 $4.43
Efficient EV 23.1 0 $8.08 $3.69
EV Truck/SUV 36.9 0 $12.92 $5.91

Gas CO2

32 kg

EV CO2

11 kg (66% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 4 hours ago

Origin

Desert Hot Springs, CA

Late night in Desert Hot Springs on Wednesday

Local time

3:19 AM

PDT

Current temp

80°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Anaheim, CA

Late night in Anaheim on Wednesday

Local time

3:19 AM

PDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

53°F

Riverside, CA

46 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

8 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 53m 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 Desert Hot Springs, CA to Anaheim, CA covers 92.3 miles and takes about 1h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Riverside Freeway, CA 91. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 46.2 miles from Desert Hot Springs, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.21 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 15 significant decision points across 92.3 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 31 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Desert Hot Springs, CA to Anaheim, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Beach Cities along the way.

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