Trip from Myrtletown, CA to Santa Ana, CA

Drive Time

13h 5m

Distance

677.6 mi

1,091 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$157

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Photo: Abhishek Navlakha

Trip Overview

Spanning 677.6 miles from Myrtletown to Santa Ana, this journey covers significant ground along the California coast. You should budget approximately 13 hours and 5 minutes of total driving time, making it a demanding trek that is best tackled over two days. With an estimated fuel cost of $92, planning your budget and stops ahead of time is essential. Since the route takes you from the northern Pacific Coast down to the southern portion of the region, you will experience a vast change in landscape. While it is technically possible to push through in one go, splitting the trip into two days will keep you much fresher behind the wheel.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

3 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

338.8 miles from Myrtletown, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 6h 50m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a varied experience as you transition between road types, with 62% of your journey spent on highways. You will navigate the Redwood Highway, the Westside Freeway, and the I-5 Truck route, which keeps the flow moving steadily. Be prepared for a substantial initial leg, as your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 244.6 miles along the Redwood Highway. This mix of arterial roads and major interstates creates a personality that shifts from rural stretches to more intensive traffic patterns as you approach your destination. Staying alert is key, as the road conditions evolve significantly from the start to the finish.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Redwood Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 244.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

At 13h 5m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 255.5 miles in near I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway.

Route Complexity 9/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 33 significant decision points across 677.6 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 255.5 miles (I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 272.9 miles (I 580 / Interstate Highway 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 273.1 miles (I 580 / MacArthur Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 33 key points

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

255.5 mi into trip | ~5h 14m in | I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 / John T. Knox Freeway toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 451B Toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland

272.9 mi into trip | ~5h 36m in | I 580 / Interstate Highway 80

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / Interstate Highway 80 toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose

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

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oaklan...

273.1 mi into trip | ~5h 36m in | I 580 / MacArthur Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580 / MacArthur Freeway toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton

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

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockt...

622.7 mi into trip | ~11h 59m 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

647.7 mi into trip | ~12h 29m 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

Between Myrtletown, CA and Santa Ana, CA, road signs point toward Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda and San Jose.

Oakland

255.5 mi in | ~5h 14m | via I 580

Hayward

272.9 mi in | ~5h 36m | via I 580

Stockton

272.9 mi in | ~5h 36m | via I 580

Alameda

272.9 mi in | ~5h 36m | via I 580

San Jose

272.9 mi in | ~5h 36m | via I 580

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Redwood Highway	244.6 mi	4h 55m
Westside Freeway	224.4 mi	4h
I 5 Truck	83.3 mi	1h 36m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway	29.3 mi	33m
Santa Ana Freeway	26 mi	30m
William Elton Brown Freeway	17 mi	18m
MacArthur Freeway	16.4 mi	18m
John T. Knox Freeway	13.6 mi	17m

Longest stretch: Redwood Highway — 244.6 mi, about 4h 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Myrtletown, CA and Santa Ana, CA.

Start on Robbie Lane

337 ft · 16 sec · Robbie Lane

Turn right onto Trinity Street

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Trinity Street

At end of road, turn left onto Myrtle Avenue

0.3 mi · 29 sec · Myrtle Avenue

Turn right onto Hubbard Lane

0.3 mi · 43 sec · Hubbard Lane

At end of road, turn right onto Harris Street

1.5 mi · 3 min · Harris Street

Turn left onto J Street

0.1 mi · 18 sec · J Street

At end of road, turn right onto Hodgson Street

0.1 mi · 23 sec · Hodgson Street

Turn left onto H Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · H Street

Turn right onto Oak Street

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Oak Street

Turn left onto F Street

0.4 mi · 44 sec · F Street

Use the straight / left lanes.

Continue on Fairway Drive

0.9 mi · 1 min · Fairway Drive

Continue on Herrick Avenue

0.9 mi · 1 min · Herrick Avenue

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Merge onto US 101

128 mi · 2 hr 37 min · Redwood Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 101

5.4 mi · 6 min · Willits Bypass

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 101; CA 20

116 mi · 2 hr 18 min · Redwood Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

14 mi · 17 min · John T. Knox Freeway

Exit 451B Toward I 580: Richmond Bridge, Oakland Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 80; I 580

3.8 mi · 4 min · Eastshore Freeway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

0.3 mi · 21 sec · Interstate Highway 80

Toward I 580 East, I 880 South: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda, San Jose Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

16 mi · 18 min · MacArthur Freeway

Toward I 580: Downtown Oakland, Hayward, Stockton Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 580

12 mi · 13 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

18 mi · 20 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

11 mi · 11 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

5.9 mi · 6 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

Merge onto I 5

224 mi · 4 hr · Westside Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

58 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 5 Truck

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

4.1 mi · 4 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the none lane.

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

26 mi · 30 min · Santa Ana Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Santa Ana Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 57 sec

Toward Broadway, Main Street, Santa Ana Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 21 sec

Toward Main Street North, Broadway Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto North Broadway

1.3 mi · 2 min · North Broadway

Use the none lane.

Turn left onto West 5th Street

0.1 mi · 16 sec · West 5th Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto North Main Street

0.2 mi · 30 sec · North Main Street

Use the right lane.

Turn right onto West 1st Street

52 ft · 1 sec · West 1st Street

Use the right lane.

Arrive at destination

West 1st Street

Trip Plan

To manage the 677.6-mile distance effectively, plan for at least three dedicated stops to break up the long hours. Because this is a multi-region drive, consider leaving early in the morning to avoid peak traffic congestion near your destination. Given the 13-hour drive time, pacing yourself is the most important factor in ensuring a safe arrival in Santa Ana. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially during that 244.6-mile stretch on the Redwood Highway, where service stations may be less frequent. If you choose to split the trip, look for accommodations near the midpoint to ensure you aren't rushing the second half of your travel.

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.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 338.8 miles from Myrtletown, CA, or about 6h 50m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 244.6 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 149 miles or 3h 7m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 338.8 miles or 6h 50m in

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

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 338.8 miles or 6h 50m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 11h 53m

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 Myrtletown, 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.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Myrtletown, CA

Aim for roughly 339 miles and 6.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Santa Ana, CA

Aim for roughly 339 miles and 6.5 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 149 miles from Myrtletown, CA.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Redwood Highway for about 244.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 338.8 mi from Myrtletown, CA · 6h 50m into the drive

First major stop

Coffee and fuel

Windsor, CA

224 mi into the route

Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch

This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.

Second major stop

Overnight candidate

Hayward, CA

447 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Hayward, CA

Overnight Options

Night 1

Santa Rosa, CA

339 mi · about 6.5h in

A practical overnight split lands near Santa Rosa, CA after about 339 miles or 6.5 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Windsor, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 149 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Manteca, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 338.8 miles from Myrtletown, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Redwood Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 244.6 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 339 miles or 6.5 hours on the road.

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.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Santa Ana, CA with some flexibility left in the schedule.

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$156.92 one way

$313.83 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 237 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.07	$161.82	$323.65
premium	$6.24	$166.55	$333.09
diesel	$5.64	$150.54	$301.08

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$157

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$287–$397

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 237.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $71 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	203.3	2	$71.15	$32.52
Efficient EV	169.4	1	$59.29	$27.10
EV Truck/SUV	271	3	$94.86	$43.37

Gas CO2

237 kg

EV CO2

79 kg (67% less)

Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 2 days ago

Origin

Myrtletown, CA

Morning in Myrtletown on Sunday

Local time

11:36 AM

PDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Santa Ana, CA

Morning in Santa Ana on Sunday

Local time

11:36 AM

PDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

38°F

Hayward, CA

447 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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

30 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

13h 5m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Myrtletown, CA to Santa Ana, CA covers 677.6 miles and takes about 13h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Redwood Highway, Westside Freeway, I 5 Truck. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 339 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 338.8 miles from Myrtletown, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $156.92 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 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Myrtletown, CA and Santa Ana, CA, road signs point toward Oakland, Hayward, Stockton, Alameda and San Jose.

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