Origin
Rio Del Mar, CA
Afternoon in Rio Del Mar on Sunday
Local time
1:38 PM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rio Del Mar, CA to Anaheim, CA
Drive Time
6h 25m
Distance
359 mi
578 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$83
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 13m
★
6 AM
6h 26m
8 AM
6h 50m
10 AM
6h 34m
12 PM
6h 32m
3 PM
6h 36m
5 PM
6h 49m
8 PM
6h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rio Del Mar, CA
Guillermo Berlin
Trip Overview
The drive from Rio Del Mar, CA to Anaheim, CA covers 359 miles and takes about 6h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Rio del Mar Boulevard, Cabrillo Highway, CA 152 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $83.14 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
179.5 miles from Rio Del Mar, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 12m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 25m drive with frequent turns across 359 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Rio del Mar Boulevard 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 25m, 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 Rio Del Mar, CA to Anaheim, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Rio del Mar Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Cabrillo Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 152 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Beach Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Blackburn Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Riverside Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Riverside Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Rio del Mar Boulevard
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rio Del Mar, CA and Anaheim, CA.
1
Start on Rio del Mar Boulevard
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Rio del Mar Boulevard
2
Continue on Rio del Mar Boulevard
420 ft
·
8 sec
·
Rio del Mar Boulevard
3
Take the ramp slight right
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
4
Merge slight left onto Cabrillo Highway
6.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Cabrillo Highway
5
Take the exit slight right toward CA 152: Watsonville, Gilroy
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 152: Watsonville, Gilroy
6
Continue on Main Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
7
Continue on Main Street
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Main Street
8
Turn left onto East Beach Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Beach Street
9
Turn right onto Blackburn Street
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
Blackburn Street
10
Turn left onto East Riverside Drive
223 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Riverside Drive
11
Continue on Riverside Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Riverside Road
12
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Riverside Road
92 ft
·
1 sec
·
Riverside Road
13
Exit the roundabout onto Riverside Road
8.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Riverside Road
14
Continue on Chittenden Road
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Chittenden Road
15
Take the exit slight right
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
16
Merge slight left onto El Camino Real
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
El Camino Real
17
Continue on South Valley Freeway
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
South Valley Freeway
18
Take the exit slight right toward CA 25 East
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
CA 25 East
19
At the end of the road, turn left onto Bloomfield Avenue
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
Bloomfield Avenue
20
Continue on Bloomfield Avenue
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Bloomfield Avenue
21
Turn right onto Pacheco Pass Highway
36 mi
·
42 min
·
Pacheco Pass Highway
22
Take the exit slight right toward I 5: Los Angeles
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 5: Los Angeles
23
Merge slight left onto Westside Freeway
181 mi
·
3 hr 14 min
·
Westside Freeway
24
Keep slight right
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
25
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
26
Keep slight right to continue on I 405 South
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 405 South
27
Keep slight left
25 mi
·
29 min
28
Keep slight left to continue on Golden State Freeway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Golden State Freeway
29
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
21 mi
·
24 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
30
Take the exit slight right toward Lincoln Avenue
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
Lincoln Avenue
31
Turn left onto West Lincoln Avenue
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
West Lincoln Avenue
32
Turn right onto South Anaheim Boulevard
371 ft
·
14 sec
·
South Anaheim Boulevard
33
Turn right
200 ft
·
15 sec
34
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 179.5 miles from Rio Del Mar, CA, or about 3h 12m 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 80 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 179.5 miles or 3h 12m 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 21m
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 Rio Del Mar, 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 Rio Del Mar, CA
This is one driving day of about 359 miles and 6h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Rio Del Mar, 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 179.5 mi from Rio Del Mar, CA · 3h 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
180 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 179.5 miles from Rio Del Mar, 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
$83.14 one way
$166.27 round trip
$5.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
126 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.07 | $85.74 | $171.47 |
| premium | $6.24 | $88.24 | $176.48 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $79.76 | $159.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$83
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$108–$133
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 125.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 107.7 | 1 | $37.70 | $17.23 |
| Efficient EV | 89.8 | 1 | $31.41 | $14.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 143.6 | 1 | $50.26 | $22.98 |
Gas CO2
126 kg
EV CO2
42 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
1:38 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
28 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 25m 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 Rio Del Mar, CA to Anaheim, CA covers 359 miles and takes about 6h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Rio del Mar Boulevard, Cabrillo Highway, CA 152. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 179.5 miles from Rio Del Mar, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $83.14 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 25m, 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 Rio Del Mar, CA to Anaheim, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Rio Del Mar, CA to Anaheim, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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