Origin
Los Altos, CA
Late night in Los Altos on Monday
Local time
3:12 AM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Los Altos, CA to Anaheim, CA
Drive Time
6h 28m
Distance
380.1 mi
612 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$88
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 16m
★
6 AM
6h 28m
8 AM
6h 53m
10 AM
6h 37m
12 PM
6h 35m
3 PM
6h 38m
5 PM
6h 52m
8 PM
6h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Los Altos, CA
Tori Pezzulla❤️
Trip Overview
The drive from Los Altos, CA to Anaheim, CA covers 380.1 miles and takes about 6h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North San Antonio Road, Foothill Expressway, I 280 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $88.02 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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
190 miles from Los Altos, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 14m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 28m drive with frequent turns across 380.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North San Antonio 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 28m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Los Altos, CA to Anaheim, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North San Antonio Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Foothill Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 280 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Junipero Serra Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 85 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Valley Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 101 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 152 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North San Antonio Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Los Altos, CA and Anaheim, CA.
1
Start on North San Antonio Road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
North San Antonio Road
2
Continue on North San Antonio Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North San Antonio Road
3
Continue on Foothill Expressway
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Foothill Expressway
4
Take the exit slight right toward I 280 South: San Jose
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 280 South: San Jose
5
Turn slight left onto Junipero Serra Freeway
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Junipero Serra Freeway
6
Take the exit right toward CA 85 South: Gilroy
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
CA 85 South: Gilroy
7
Merge slight left onto West Valley Freeway
18 mi
·
20 min
·
West Valley Freeway
8
Continue on US 101 South
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 101 South
9
Continue straight
20 mi
·
23 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
CA 152 East: 10th Street, Pacheco Pass Road
11
Turn left onto East 10th Street
354 ft
·
13 sec
·
East 10th Street
12
Continue on Pacheco Pass Highway
41 mi
·
50 min
·
Pacheco Pass Highway
13
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5: Los Angeles
14
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
181 mi
·
3 hr 14 min
·
Westside Freeway
15
Keep slight right
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
16
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
17
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 405 South
18
Keep slight left
25 mi
·
29 min
19
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Golden State Freeway
20
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
21 mi
·
24 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
21
Take the exit slight right toward Lincoln Avenue
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
Lincoln Avenue
22
Turn left onto West Lincoln Avenue
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
West Lincoln Avenue
23
Turn right onto South Anaheim Boulevard
371 ft
·
14 sec
·
South Anaheim Boulevard
24
Turn right
200 ft
·
15 sec
25
Arrive at your 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 190 miles from Los Altos, CA, or about 3h 14m 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 84 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 190 miles or 3h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 27m
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 Los Altos, 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 Los Altos, CA
This is one driving day of about 380.1 miles and 6h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Los Altos, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 190 mi from Los Altos, CA · 3h 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
190 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 84 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 190 miles from Los Altos, 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
$88.02 one way
$176.04 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
133 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $90.78 | $181.55 |
| premium | $6.24 | $93.42 | $186.85 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $84.45 | $168.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$88
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$113–$138
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 133 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 114 | 1 | $39.91 | $18.24 |
| Efficient EV | 95 | 1 | $33.26 | $15.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 152 | 1 | $53.21 | $24.33 |
Gas CO2
133 kg
EV CO2
44 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.
Destination
Anaheim, CA
Late night in Anaheim on Monday
Local time
3:12 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
6h 28m 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 Los Altos, CA to Anaheim, CA covers 380.1 miles and takes about 6h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North San Antonio Road, Foothill Expressway, I 280 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 190 miles from Los Altos, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $88.02 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 28m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Los Altos, CA to Anaheim, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Los Altos, CA to Anaheim, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Anaheim, CA
More from Los Altos, CA
More trips to Anaheim, CA
Explore more options from Los Altos, CA or browse trips ending in Anaheim, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.
Explore maps for Los Altos, CA or Anaheim, CA on MapSof.net.