Origin
Russ, CA
Evening in Russ on Tuesday
Local time
6:27 PM
PDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Russ, CA to Santa Clarita, CA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
25m
Distance
17 mi
27 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 30m
10 AM
0h 27m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 27m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 24m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Russ, CA
Спиридон Варфаламеев
Santa Clarita, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 17-mile drive from Russ, CA to Santa Clarita, CA takes about 25 minutes and is perfect for a single day trip. You'll primarily be on the Antelope Valley Freeway, Soledad Canyon Road, and Newhall Avenue. With a fuel cost estimated at $4, this is a very budget-friendly excursion. The mixed drive profile means you'll experience a bit of everything, making it an engaging, albeit brief, journey. Since it’s so short, you won't need to worry about overnight stops, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule.
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
8.5 miles from Russ, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 12m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 48% of it being highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you’ll encounter is 8.2 miles along the Antelope Valley Freeway. This section offers a taste of freeway travel before transitioning to local roads like Soledad Canyon Road and Newhall Avenue. The road's personality shifts from open freeway to more community-focused streets as you approach Santa Clarita. It’s a drive that keeps you engaged without demanding constant attention, offering a varied driving experience.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Antelope Valley Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 8.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5 miles in.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 17 miles you will encounter 9 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 5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.2 miles (CA 14 / Antelope Valley Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Turn left toward CA 14 South: Los Angeles
Navigation decision point
Toward CA 14 South: Los Angeles
5
5.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
CA 14 / Antelope Valley Freeway
Merge onto CA 14 / Antelope Valley Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
13.3 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward Newhall Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 2
Toward Newhall Avenue
5
13.6 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
Newhall Avenue
Turn right onto Newhall Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
15.1 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
Newhall Avenue
Enter roundabout onto Newhall Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Antelope Valley Freeway | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| Soledad Canyon Road | 5 mi | 7m |
| Newhall Avenue | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| Orchard Village Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Lyons Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| 16th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Antelope Valley Freeway
— 8.2 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Russ, CA and Santa Clarita, CA.
1
Start on Soledad Canyon Road
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Soledad Canyon Road
2
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward CA 14 South: Los Angeles
3
Merge onto CA 14
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Antelope Valley Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 2
Toward Newhall Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Turn right onto Newhall Avenue
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Newhall Avenue
Use the right lane.
6
Enter roundabout onto Newhall Avenue
164 ft
·
4 sec
·
Newhall Avenue
7
Continue on Newhall Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Newhall Avenue
8
Turn left onto Lyons Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Lyons Avenue
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto Orchard Village Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Orchard Village Road
Use the right lane.
10
Turn right onto 16th Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
16th Street
11
Turn left onto Newhall Avenue
451 ft
·
19 sec
·
Newhall Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
Newhall Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short 25-minute duration for this 17-mile trip, you have the luxury of leaving whenever it suits you best. There are no recommended stops, so you can easily complete this drive in one go. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is only $4, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Pay attention as you transition from the Antelope Valley Freeway onto Soledad Canyon Road and Newhall Avenue, as these local roads will have different traffic patterns and speed limits. This short distance means you can easily fit it into a larger travel day.
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 8.5 miles from Russ, CA, or about 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.2 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 17 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.5 miles or 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Santa Clarita, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Russ, 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 Russ, CA
This is one driving day of about 17 miles and 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Russ, 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 Antelope Valley Freeway for about 8.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.5 mi from Russ, CA · 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
9 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 8.5 miles from Russ, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Santa Clarita, CA
The final approach into Santa Clarita, 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 Clarita, 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
$3.91 one way
$7.81 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $4.03 | $8.05 |
| premium | $6.18 | $4.13 | $8.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.75 | $7.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.78 | $0.82 |
| Efficient EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.49 | $0.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.38 | $1.09 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% 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
Santa Clarita, CA
Evening in Santa Clarita on Tuesday
Local time
6:27 PM
PDT
Current temp
48°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
20 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
25m 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 Russ, CA to Santa Clarita, CA covers 17 miles and takes about 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Antelope Valley Freeway, Soledad Canyon Road, Newhall Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.5 miles from Russ, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.91 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 17 miles you will encounter 9 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 5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.2 miles (CA 14 / Antelope Valley Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Russ, CA to Santa Clarita, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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