Origin
Santa Ana, CA
Late night in Santa Ana on Wednesday
Local time
12:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Santa Ana, CA to Altadena, CA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
58m
Distance
40.7 mi
65 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Santa Ana, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Altadena, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Santa Ana, CA to Altadena, CA covers 40.7 miles and takes about 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Broadway, West Santa Clara Avenue, I 5 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.35 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
20.3 miles from Santa Ana, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 29m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 58m drive with frequent turns across 40.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Broadway 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Santa Ana, CA to Altadena, CA is easy. At 58m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Santa Ana, CA to Altadena, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Broadway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Santa Clara Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 5 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Santa Ana Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 710 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Long Beach Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Valley Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Fremont Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Broadway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Ana, CA and Altadena, CA.
1
Start on West 1st Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
West 1st Street
2
Turn right onto North Broadway
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broadway
3
Turn right onto West Santa Clara Avenue
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
West Santa Clara Avenue
4
Continue on I 5 North: Los Angeles
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
I 5 North: Los Angeles
5
Merge slight left onto Santa Ana Freeway
8.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
6
Keep slight right to continue on Santa Ana Freeway
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Santa Ana Freeway
7
Take the exit slight left toward I 710 North: Pasadena
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 710 North: Pasadena
8
Merge slight right onto Long Beach Freeway
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Long Beach Freeway
9
Turn right onto West Valley Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Valley Boulevard
10
Turn left onto South Fremont Avenue
3.3 mi
·
7 min
·
South Fremont Avenue
11
At the end of the road, turn left onto Columbia Street
174 ft
·
7 sec
·
Columbia Street
12
Turn right onto South Pasadena Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Pasadena Avenue
13
Turn slight left onto Long Beach Freeway
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Long Beach Freeway
14
Take the exit slight right toward I 210 East: San Bernardino
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 210 East: San Bernardino
15
Merge slight left onto Ventura Freeway
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
Ventura Freeway
16
Merge slight right onto Foothill Freeway
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
Foothill Freeway
17
Take the exit slight right toward Lake Avenue
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Lake Avenue
18
Turn straight onto East Corson Street
446 ft
·
10 sec
·
East Corson Street
19
Turn left onto North Lake Avenue
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
North Lake Avenue
20
Arrive at your 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 20.3 miles from Santa Ana, CA, or about 29m 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 40.7 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 20.3 miles or 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Altadena, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Santa Ana, 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 Santa Ana, CA
This is one driving day of about 40.7 miles and 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Santa Ana, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.3 mi from Santa Ana, CA · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.3 miles from Santa Ana, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Altadena, CA
The final approach into Altadena, 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 Altadena, 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
$9.35 one way
$18.71 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $9.64 | $19.28 |
| premium | $6.18 | $9.90 | $19.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.99 | $17.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.27 | $1.95 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.56 | $1.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.70 | $2.60 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Altadena, CA
Late night in Altadena on Wednesday
Local time
12:21 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°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
18 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
58m 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 Santa Ana, CA to Altadena, CA covers 40.7 miles and takes about 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Broadway, West Santa Clara Avenue, I 5 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.3 miles from Santa Ana, CA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.35 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.
The drive from Santa Ana, CA to Altadena, CA is easy. At 58m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Santa Ana, CA to Altadena, CA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Santa Ana, CA to Altadena, CA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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