Origin
Petaluma, CA
Afternoon in Petaluma on Sunday
Local time
1:47 PM
PDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Petaluma, CA to Anaheim, CA
Drive Time
7h 1m
Distance
438.3 mi
705 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$102
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 50m
★
6 AM
7h 1m
8 AM
7h 24m
10 AM
7h 9m
12 PM
7h 7m
3 PM
7h 10m
5 PM
7h 23m
8 PM
6h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Petaluma, CA
Stephen Leonardi
Trip Overview
The drive from Petaluma, CA to Anaheim, CA covers 438.3 miles and takes about 7h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on D Street, Lakeville Street, US 101 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $101.50 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
219.2 miles from Petaluma, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 30m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 7h 1m drive with frequent turns across 438.3 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.
D Street 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
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 1m, 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 Petaluma, CA to Anaheim, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| D Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lakeville Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 101 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Redwood Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| John T | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Eastshore Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 80 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| MacArthur Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
D Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Petaluma, CA and Anaheim, CA.
1
Start on Petaluma Boulevard South
75 ft
·
6 sec
·
Petaluma Boulevard South
2
Turn right onto D Street
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
D Street
3
Turn right onto Lakeville Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lakeville Street
4
Take the ramp left toward US 101 South: San Francisco
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 101 South: San Francisco
5
Merge slight left onto Redwood Highway
21 mi
·
24 min
·
Redwood Highway
6
Keep slight right to continue on John T. Knox Freeway
14 mi
·
17 min
·
John T. Knox Freeway
7
Merge slight left onto Eastshore Freeway
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Eastshore Freeway
8
Keep slight left to continue on Interstate Highway 80
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
Interstate Highway 80
9
Keep slight left to continue on MacArthur Freeway
16 mi
·
18 min
·
MacArthur Freeway
10
Merge slight left onto Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
11
Keep slight right to continue on Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway
12
Keep slight right to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
11 mi
·
12 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
13
Keep slight left to continue on William Elton Brown Freeway
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
William Elton Brown Freeway
14
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
224 mi
·
4 hr
·
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 219.2 miles from Petaluma, CA, or about 3h 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 96 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 219.2 miles or 3h 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 6h 3m
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 Petaluma, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Petaluma, CA
This is one driving day of about 438.3 miles and 7h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 96 miles from Petaluma, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 219.2 mi from Petaluma, CA · 3h 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
219 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 96 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 219.2 miles from Petaluma, 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
$101.50 one way
$203.00 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
153 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $104.67 | $209.35 |
| premium | $6.24 | $107.73 | $215.46 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $97.38 | $194.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$102
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$127–$152
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 153.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 131.5 | 1 | $46.02 | $21.04 |
| Efficient EV | 109.6 | 1 | $38.35 | $17.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 175.3 | 2 | $61.36 | $28.05 |
Gas CO2
153 kg
EV CO2
51 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
Afternoon in Anaheim on Sunday
Local time
1:47 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
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
7h 1m 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 Petaluma, CA to Anaheim, CA covers 438.3 miles and takes about 7h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are D Street, Lakeville Street, US 101 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 219.2 miles from Petaluma, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $101.50 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 2 meaningful breaks 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 7h 1m, 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 Petaluma, CA to Anaheim, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Petaluma, CA to Anaheim, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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