Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Santa Ana, CA to Blythe, CA

Drive Time

3h 55m

Distance

209.2 mi

337 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$48

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 42m ★
6 AM
3h 55m
8 AM
4h 21m
10 AM
4h 4m
12 PM
4h 2m
3 PM
4h 6m
5 PM
4h 20m
8 PM
3h 48m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Santa Ana, CA, CA

Santa Ana, CA

Abhishek Navlakha

Downtown Blythe, CA, CA

Blythe, CA

Dominik Gryzbon

Trip Overview

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 Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway, Riverside Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 110.7 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.45 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 2h 1m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from Santa Ana, CA to Blythe, CA covers 209.2 miles and takes about 3h 55m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 110.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near Grand Avenue.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 209.2 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (CA 55 / Costa Mesa Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
1 mi into trip | ~2m in | Grand Avenue

Turn left onto Grand Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
7
2.4 mi into trip | ~4m in

Turn left toward CA 55 North

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward CA 55 North
6
4.1 mi into trip | ~6m in | CA 55 / Costa Mesa Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 55 / Costa Mesa Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
40.3 mi into trip | ~48m in

Take the exit toward I 215 South, CA 60 East: San Diego, Indio

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 65B Toward I 215 South, CA 60 East: San Diego, Indi...
8
45.6 mi into trip | ~55m in | CA 60 / Moreno Valley Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 60 / Moreno Valley Freeway toward CA 60 East: Indio

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Exit 29 Toward CA 60 East: Indio

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Santa Ana, CA to Blythe, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Indio along the way.

Indio

40.3 mi in | ~48m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway 110.7 mi 1h 58m
Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway 33.5 mi 35m
Riverside Freeway 30.9 mi 35m
Moreno Valley Freeway 16.2 mi 20m
Costa Mesa Freeway 6.8 mi 7m
Escondido Freeway 4.4 mi 5m
Moreno Valley Expressway 2 mi 2m
East 4th Street 1.1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway — 110.7 mi, about 1h 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Santa Ana, CA and Blythe, CA.

1

Start on West 1st Street

260 ft · 10 sec · West 1st Street
2

Continue on West 1st Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · West 1st Street
Use the left lane.
3

Turn left onto Grand Avenue

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Grand Avenue
Use the none lane.
4

Turn right onto East 4th Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · East 4th Street
Use the right lane.
5

Continue on Irvine Boulevard

406 ft · 13 sec · Irvine Boulevard
Use the none lane.
6

Turn left

0.3 mi · 23 sec
Toward CA 55 North Use the left lane.
7

Merge onto CA 55

1.4 mi · 1 min · Costa Mesa Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 55

5.3 mi · 6 min · Costa Mesa Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto CA 91

31 mi · 35 min · Riverside Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 65B Toward I 215 South, CA 60 East: San Diego, Indio Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Merge onto CA 60

0.3 mi · 22 sec · Pomona Freeway
12

Continue on I 215; CA 60

3.9 mi · 4 min · Escondido Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 215; CA 60

0.4 mi · 30 sec · Escondido Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight left at fork onto CA 60

16 mi · 19 min · Moreno Valley Freeway
Exit 29 Toward CA 60 East: Indio Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
15

Continue on CA 60

2.0 mi · 2 min · Moreno Valley Expressway
16

Continue on CA 60

0.6 mi · 42 sec · Moreno Valley Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
17

Merge onto I 10

18 mi · 19 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

32 mi · 34 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight left at fork onto I 10

1.1 mi · 1 min · Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway
20

Continue on I 10

93 mi · 1 hr 39 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
21

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec
Toward Lovekin Boulevard
22

Turn left onto South Lovekin Boulevard

0.3 mi · 32 sec · South Lovekin Boulevard
23

Turn right onto I 10 Business

0.5 mi · 1 min · West Hobsonway
Use the none lane.
24

Arrive at destination

I 10 Business

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 104.6 miles from Santa Ana, CA, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 110.7 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 104.6 miles or 2h 1m 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 13m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blythe, 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 209.2 miles and 3h 55m.

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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 110.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 104.6 mi from Santa Ana, CA · 2h 1m into the drive

Downtown Moreno Valley, CA, CA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Moreno Valley, CA

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Moreno Valley, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Moreno Valley, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 104.6 miles from Santa Ana, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 110.7 miles.

Arriving in Blythe, CA

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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park

National Park

Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in Joshua Tree National Park. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds...

18 mi from route ~44 min detour $30 near mile 129.9
Caution: Oasis of Mara Trail Partial Closure
Park Closure: Cholla Cactus Garden Trail Closed
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$48.45 one way

$96.89 round trip

$5.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 73 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $6.07 $49.96 $99.92
premium $6.24 $51.42 $102.84
diesel $5.64 $46.48 $92.95

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$48

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$73–$98

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 73.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

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.

Forecast data refreshed 4 hours ago

Origin

Santa Ana, CA

Afternoon in Santa Ana on Sunday

Local time

1:48 PM

PDT

Current temp

66°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

SW 5 to 15 mph 72% chance Live forecast

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 12 at 8:16AM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Eureka CA

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 6:49AM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

Destination

Blythe, CA

Afternoon in Blythe on Sunday

Local time

1:48 PM

PDT

Current temp

81°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 10 to 20 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Winter Weather Advisory

Winter Weather Advisory issued April 12 at 8:16AM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Eureka CA

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 12 at 6:49AM PDT until April 12 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

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

15 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

3h 55m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Blythe, CA covers 209.2 miles and takes about 3h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, Sonny Bono Memorial Freeway, Riverside Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 104.6 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 $48.45 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 209.2 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.1 miles (CA 55 / Costa Mesa Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Santa Ana, CA to Blythe, CA, road signs begin pointing toward Indio along the way.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Blythe, CA

San Jose, CA 560.8 mi · 10h 27m Fontana, CA 176.8 mi · 3h 14m

More from Santa Ana, CA

Arbuckle, CA 462.5 mi · 8h 30m San Francisco, CA 414 mi · 7h 43m Martinez, CA 406.5 mi · 7h 33m Alamo, CA 391.7 mi · 7h 14m Boulder Creek, CA 388.3 mi · 7h 33m San Jose, CA 372.3 mi · 7h 1m

More trips to Blythe, CA

Fremont, CA 576.7 mi Stockton, CA 558.1 mi Chula Vista, CA 217.2 mi San Diego, CA 216.6 mi

Explore more options from Santa Ana, CA or browse trips ending in Blythe, CA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.

Explore maps for Santa Ana, CA or Blythe, CA on MapSof.net.