Origin
Pasadena, CA
Afternoon in Pasadena on Sunday
Local time
1:35 PM
PDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pasadena, CA to Anaheim, CA
Drive Time
44m
Distance
30.8 mi
50 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pasadena, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from Pasadena, CA to Anaheim, CA covers 30.8 miles and takes about 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Santa Ana Freeway, Long Beach Freeway, Fremont Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.5 miles on Santa Ana Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.13 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
15.4 miles from Pasadena, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 24m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 44m highway drive covering 30.8 miles, with most of the trip on Santa Ana Freeway and Long Beach Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 18.5 miles on Santa Ana Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Santa Ana Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 18.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Santa Ana Freeway and Long Beach Freeway. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 66 Hist / East Colorado Boulevard.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 30.8 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 66 Hist / East Colorado Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (South Fair Oaks Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (Columbia Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 66 Hist / East Colorado Boulevard
At end of road, turn right onto US 66 Hist / East Colorado Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
South Fair Oaks Avenue
Turn left onto South Fair Oaks Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Columbia Street
Turn right onto Columbia Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
10.1 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward I 5 South: Santa Ana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 18
Toward I 5 South: Santa Ana
7
28.9 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward Lincoln Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 111
Toward Lincoln Avenue
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana Freeway | 18.5 mi | 21m |
| Long Beach Freeway | 4 mi | 4m |
| Fremont Avenue | 3.3 mi | 7m |
| South Fair Oaks Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| West Lincoln Avenue | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| West Valley Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Colorado Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Columbia Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Santa Ana Freeway
— 18.5 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pasadena, CA and Anaheim, CA.
1
Start on East Holly Street
73 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Holly Street
2
Turn right onto North Garfield Avenue
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Garfield Avenue
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 66 Hist
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Colorado Boulevard
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto South Fair Oaks Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Fair Oaks Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto Columbia Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Columbia Street
Use the none lane.
6
Turn left onto Fremont Avenue
3.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Fremont Avenue
Use the none lane.
7
Turn right onto West Valley Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Valley Boulevard
Use the right lane.
8
Turn left onto I 710
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Long Beach Freeway
Use the left lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 18
Toward I 5 South: Santa Ana
Use the slight left lane.
10
Merge onto I 5
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 111
Toward Lincoln Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto West Lincoln Avenue
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
West Lincoln Avenue
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto South Anaheim Boulevard
370 ft
·
14 sec
·
South Anaheim Boulevard
14
Turn right
200 ft
·
14 sec
Use the none lane.
15
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 15.4 miles from Pasadena, CA, or about 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.5 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 30.8 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 15.4 miles or 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 36m
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 Pasadena, 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 Pasadena, CA
This is one driving day of about 30.8 miles and 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Pasadena, 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 Santa Ana Freeway for about 18.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.4 mi from Pasadena, CA · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.4 miles from Pasadena, 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
$7.13 one way
$14.27 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $7.36 | $14.71 |
| premium | $6.24 | $7.57 | $15.14 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.84 | $13.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.23 | $1.48 |
| Efficient EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.70 | $1.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.31 | $1.97 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Anaheim, CA
Afternoon in Anaheim on Sunday
Local time
1:35 PM
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
1 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
44m 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 Pasadena, CA to Anaheim, CA covers 30.8 miles and takes about 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Santa Ana Freeway, Long Beach Freeway, Fremont Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.4 miles from Pasadena, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.13 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 30.8 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 66 Hist / East Colorado Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (South Fair Oaks Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles (Columbia Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Pasadena, CA to Anaheim, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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