Trip from Santa Ana, CA to Fairfield, CA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 55m

Distance

426.1 mi

686 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$98

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min

4 AM

7h 46m ★

6 AM

7h 55m

8 AM

8h 13m

10 AM

8h 2m

12 PM

8h 0m

3 PM

8h 2m

5 PM

8h 12m

8 PM

7h 50m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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county seat and city of Orange County, California, United States

Santa Ana, CA

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Solano County, California, United States

Fairfield, CA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Santa Ana, CA to Fairfield, CA covers 426.1 miles and takes about 7h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Westside Freeway, Golden State Freeway, I 5 Truck for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 225.6 miles on Westside Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $97.94 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

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

213 miles from Santa Ana, CA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 59m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Westside Freeway	225.6 mi	4h 1m
Golden State Freeway	50 mi	57m
I 5 Truck	37.7 mi	43m
Santa Ana Freeway	26.9 mi	31m
Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway	19.6 mi	22m
William Elton Brown Freeway	17 mi	18m
Donald D Doyle Highway	15.2 mi	17m
Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway	12.9 mi	14m

Longest stretch: Westside Freeway — 225.6 mi, about 4h 1m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on West 1st Street

0.1 mi · 15 sec · West 1st Street

Turn right onto North Broadway

1.5 mi · 2 min · North Broadway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn right onto West Santa Clara Avenue

0.1 mi · 14 sec · West Santa Clara Avenue

Continue on this road

0.3 mi · 26 sec · this road

Toward I 5 North: Los Angeles Use the left / straight / right lanes.

Merge onto I 5

8.9 mi · 10 min · Santa Ana Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

18 mi · 20 min · Santa Ana Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

25 mi · 29 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

2.2 mi · 2 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck

1.5 mi · 1 min · I 5 Truck

Exit 161A Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 Truck

36 mi · 41 min · I 5 Truck

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 5

22 mi · 25 min · Golden State Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5

226 mi · 4 hr 1 min · Westside Freeway

Toward I 5 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 580

16 mi · 17 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

Toward I 580 West: Tracy, San Francisco

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580 Bypass

1.1 mi · 1 min · William Elton Brown Freeway

Merge onto I 580

18 mi · 20 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 580

1.6 mi · 1 min · Arthur H. Breed Junior Freeway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 16 sec

Exit 44B Toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 30 sec

Toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 680

15 mi · 17 min · Donald D Doyle Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 680

5.0 mi · 5 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

Toward I 680, CA 24 Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 680

6.0 mi · 6 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

Toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 680

243 ft · 3 sec · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 680

1.8 mi · 2 min · Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 680

0.4 mi · 26 sec · Benicia-Martinez Bridge

Continue on I 680

12 mi · 13 min · Luther E Gibson Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 55 sec

Exit 71A Toward I 80 East, CA 12 East: Fairfield, Sacramento

Merge onto I 80; CA 12

1.7 mi · 1 min · Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto CA 12

3.3 mi · 4 min · CA 12

Toward CA 12 East: Rio Vista Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · Pennsylvania Avenue

Turn right onto US 40 Historic

0.5 mi · 1 min · Texas Street

Use the right lane.

Arrive at destination

US 40 Historic

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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 213 miles from Santa Ana, CA, or about 3h 59m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 225.6 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 94 miles or 1h 50m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 213 miles or 3h 59m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 44m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairfield, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Santa Ana, CA

This is one driving day of about 426.1 miles and 7h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 94 miles from Santa Ana, CA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 225.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city and county seat of Kern County, California, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Bakersfield, CA

213 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

Santa Clarita, CA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 94 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mendota, CA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 213 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 Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 225.6 miles.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Orange, California

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+17147873925

Visit website

Top Coffee Stop

Brot Coffee

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Orange, California

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+17146029894

Visit website

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30

Orange, California

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+17147873925

Visit website

Central Kitchen at The Lorenzo

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 30.4

Los Angeles, California

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+12139082400

Visit website

Utopia European Caffe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20

Tustin, California

Hours: 8:30 am–9:30 pm

+17143525789

Visit website

NEP Cafe - Fountain Valley

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour $20 to $30

Fountain Valley, California

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+17145168121

Visit website

Memphis Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour $20 to $30

Costa Mesa, California

Hours: 8 am–10 pm

+17144327685

Visit website

Arc Food & Libations

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour $50 to $10

Costa Mesa, California

Hours: 4–11 pm

+19495005561

Visit website

Dupont Centre Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

5 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20

Irvine, California

Hours: 6:30 am–8 pm

+19497798094

Visit website

Brot Coffee

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Orange, California

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+17146029894

Visit website

Jurassic Magic Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 30.4

Los Angeles, California

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

+12132639741

Visit website

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour

Tustin, California

+18009272630

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 60.9

Santa Clarita, California

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+18887584389

Visit website

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 30.4

Los Angeles, California

Visit website

Intrepid Escape Rooms Orange County

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour

Tustin, California

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+19498850111

Visit website

American Armory Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 426.1

Fairfield, California

Hours: 10 am–3 pm

+17073896846

Visit website

60out Escape Rooms - Silver Lake

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 30.4

Los Angeles, California

Hours: 10 am–10:30 pm

+13233733101

Visit website

Dunnell Nature Park and Education Center (Dunnell Park)

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 426.1

Fairfield, California

+17074287428

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 28

5 decision points cluster between mile 56.6 and 399.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

56.6 mi into trip | ~1h 7m in | I 5 Truck

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 161A Toward I 5 Truck North, CA 14 Truck

116.6 mi into trip | ~2h 16m in | I 5 / Westside Freeway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway toward I 5 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 5 North

378.7 mi into trip | ~6h 58m in

Take the exit toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacramento, Concord, Walnut Creek

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 44B Toward I 680 South, I 680 North: San Jose, Sacr...

378.8 mi into trip | ~6h 58m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacramento

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 680 North: Walnut Creek, Concord, Sacr...

399.4 mi into trip | ~7h 22m in | I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 680 / Senator Daniel E Boatwright Highway toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 680 North: Martinez, Sacramento

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$97.94 one way

$195.87 round trip

$5.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 149 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$6.02	$100.92	$201.84
premium	$6.18	$103.62	$207.25
diesel	$5.61	$94.08	$188.16

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$98

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$123–$148

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 149.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $45 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	127.8	1	$44.74	$20.45
Efficient EV	106.5	1	$37.28	$17.04
EV Truck/SUV	170.4	2	$59.65	$27.27

Gas CO2

149 kg

EV CO2

50 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Santa Ana, CA

Afternoon in Santa Ana on Saturday

Local time

1:17 PM

PDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Fairfield, CA

Afternoon in Fairfield on Saturday

Local time

1:17 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

24 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

Muir Woods National Monument

National Monument

Walk among old growth coast redwoods, cooling their roots in the fresh water of Redwood Creek and lifting their crowns to reach the sun and fog. Federally protected as a National Monument since 1908,...

28 mi from route ~71 min detour $15 near mile 396.7

View on nps.gov

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

What kind of drive is this?

426.1 mi in 7h 55m, mostly highway — 225.6 mi of that is on Westside Freeway.

92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 225.6 mi on Westside Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and Golden State Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 56.6 miles in near I 5 Truck.

Driving Effort 9/10

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

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 426.1 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 56.6 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.6 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 378.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Santa Ana, CA and Fairfield, CA, road signs point toward San Francisco, Sacramento, Concord and Walnut Creek.

San Francisco

342.2 mi in | ~6h 17m | via I 580

Sacramento

378.7 mi in | ~6h 58m

Concord

378.7 mi in | ~6h 58m

Walnut Creek

378.7 mi in | ~6h 58m

About the Cities

Starting in Santa Ana, CA

Full guide →

Santa Ana is a city in Orange County, Southern California and is the county seat of that county.

Arriving in Fairfield, CA

Full guide →

Fairfield is in Solano County in the Sacramento Valley of California.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 55m. Total distance: 426.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 55m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 225.6 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Fairfield, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

Yes — Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 7.9 hours each way, a round trip means 15.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fairfield, CA before the return drive.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Santa Ana, CA to Fairfield, CA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse

Brot Coffee

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse

Central Kitchen at The Lorenzo

Utopia European Caffe

NEP Cafe - Fountain Valley

Memphis Cafe

Arc Food & Libations

Dupont Centre Cafe

Brot Coffee

Jurassic Magic Coffee

Tesla Supercharger

Electrify America Charging Station

EVgo Charging Station

Electrify America Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Branded Chargers

ChargePoint Charging Station

Porsche Sales & Marketplace Charging Station

Heather Farm Park

Butler Amusements Inc

Los Angeles Plaza Park

Vista Hermosa Natural Park, Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority

Intrepid Escape Rooms Orange County

American Armory Museum

60out Escape Rooms - Silver Lake

Dunnell Nature Park and Education Center (Dunnell Park)

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Santa Ana, CA

Fairfield, CA

Same local time

24 degrees cooler at arrival

7h 55m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

César E. Chávez National Monument

Muir Woods National Monument

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Santa Ana, CA

Arriving in Fairfield, CA

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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