Drive Time
3h 55m
Distance
209.2 mi
337 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
The drive from Santa Ana, CA to Blythe, CA covers 209.2 miles and takes about 3h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West 1st Street, Grand Avenue, East 4th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.41 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
104.6 miles from Santa Ana, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 55m drive with frequent turns across 209.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 1st Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Grand Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East 4th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Irvine Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CA 55 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Costa Mesa Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Riverside Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 215 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Santa Ana, CA and Blythe, CA.
Start on West 1st Street
Continue on West 1st Street
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
Turn right onto East 4th Street
Continue on Irvine Boulevard
Turn left onto CA 55 North
Merge slight left onto Costa Mesa Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Costa Mesa Freeway
Merge slight left onto Riverside Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Riverside Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward I 215 South, CA 60 East: San Diego, Indio
Merge slight left onto Pomona Freeway
Continue on Escondido Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Escondido Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Moreno Valley Freeway
Continue on Moreno Valley Expressway
Continue on Moreno Valley Freeway
Merge slight left onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Keep slight left to continue on Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
Continue on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Take the exit slight right toward Lovekin Boulevard
Turn left onto South Lovekin Boulevard
Turn right onto West Hobsonway
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.6 miles or 1h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blythe, CA than in the middle of the route.
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 209.2 miles and 3h 55m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 104.6 mi from Santa Ana, CA · 1h 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
105 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 104.6 miles from Santa Ana, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Blythe, 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 Blythe, CA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$28.41 one way
$56.83 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $31.71 | $63.42 |
| premium | $4.15 | $34.18 | $68.36 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $30.89 | $61.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.8 | 0 | $21.97 | $10.04 |
| Efficient EV | 52.3 | 0 | $18.30 | $8.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 83.7 | 1 | $29.29 | $13.39 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Santa Ana on Saturday
Local time
9:11 AM
PDT
Current temp
75°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Blythe on Saturday
Local time
9:11 AM
PDT
Current temp
54°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
51°F
Moreno Valley, CA
105 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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