Origin
Loma Linda, CA
Afternoon in Loma Linda on Sunday
Local time
3:07 PM
PDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Loma Linda, CA to Santa Ana, CA
Drive Time
1h
Distance
48.3 mi
78 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Loma Linda, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Santa Ana, CA
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
Connecting Loma Linda to Santa Ana covers 48.3 miles, making for a quick one-hour journey across the Pacific Coast region. You will primarily navigate via Barton Road, East Washington Street, and the Riverside Freeway to reach your destination. Because the travel time is so brief, this trip is perfectly suited as a simple one-day excursion. Budgeting about $7 for fuel should cover the entire distance comfortably. It is a straightforward route that functions well for commuters or anyone looking to move between these two California cities without the need for an overnight stay.
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
24.1 miles from Loma Linda, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 30m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will spend 0% of your time on major highways, as the route relies heavily on local thoroughfares and surface streets. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 0 miles on Barton Road, meaning you should be prepared for frequent stops and navigation adjustments. As you transition from Loma Linda toward Santa Ana, the character of the road remains consistent, favoring local connectivity over high-speed travel. This is an active driving experience that requires you to stay engaged with the local road network throughout the hour-long trip.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Barton Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Loma Linda, CA to Santa Ana, CA is easy. At 1h with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Loma Linda, CA to Santa Ana, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Barton Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Washington Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Riverside Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Costa Mesa Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Fourth Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East 4th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Mabury Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Barton Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Loma Linda, CA and Santa Ana, CA.
1
Start on Anderson Street
30 ft
·
6 sec
·
Anderson Street
2
Turn left onto Barton Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Barton Road
3
Continue on East Washington Street
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
East Washington Street
4
Continue on East Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
East Washington Street
5
Take the ramp left
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
6
Merge slight left onto Riverside Freeway
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Riverside Freeway
7
Continue on Riverside Freeway
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Riverside Freeway
8
Take the exit slight right toward Main Street
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
·
Main Street
9
Continue straight
17 mi
·
19 min
10
Keep slight left to continue on Costa Mesa Freeway
6.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Costa Mesa Freeway
11
Take the exit slight right toward Fourth Street, Irvine Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Fourth Street, Irvine Boulevard
12
Turn right onto East 4th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 4th Street
13
Turn left onto Mabury Street
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Mabury Street
14
Turn right onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East 1st Street
15
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 48.3-mile trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though you should account for local traffic patterns typical of the region. There are no planned stops on this route, so ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave to cover the $7 estimated cost. Because the drive is only one hour, you can easily complete it in a single push without needing to schedule rest breaks. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to keep your navigation system ready, as the turn-heavy nature of these local roads makes it easy to miss a turn if you aren't watching the signs closely. Enjoy the ease of this quick California transit.
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 24.1 miles from Loma Linda, CA, or about 30m into the drive.
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 48.3 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 24.1 miles or 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 51m
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 Loma Linda, 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 Loma Linda, CA
This is one driving day of about 48.3 miles and 1h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Loma Linda, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.1 mi from Loma Linda, CA · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 48.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.1 miles from Loma Linda, 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
$11.19 one way
$22.37 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $11.53 | $23.07 |
| premium | $6.24 | $11.87 | $23.74 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.73 | $21.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.23 | $1.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.76 | $3.09 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
3:07 PM
PDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
52°F
Riverside, CA
24 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
24 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
1h 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 Loma Linda, CA to Santa Ana, CA covers 48.3 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Barton Road, East Washington Street, Riverside Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.1 miles from Loma Linda, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.19 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.
The drive from Loma Linda, CA to Santa Ana, CA is easy. At 1h with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Loma Linda, CA to Santa Ana, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Loma Linda, CA to Santa Ana, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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